By Enyichukwu Enemanna
With seven months left to the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet.
The President also administered an oath of office to seven newly appointed ministers recently confirmed by the Senate. They are replacing former ministers who had resigned to contest primaries for various elective positions.
The new ministers took the oath of office shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Council Chamber, State House Abuja.
Those sworn in are Henry Ikoh (Abia), Umana Okon Umana (Akwa-Ibom), Udi Odum (Rivers), Ademola Adegoroye (Ondo), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano), Goodluck Nana Opiah (Imo) and Ekumankama Nkama (Ebonyi).
President Buhari urged the new ministerial appointees to consider their emergence as a call to duty that demands diligent service to the nation.
Before the council meeting, a minute of silence was observed in honour of the outgoing Secretary-General of OPEC Mohammed Barkindo who died on Tuesday evening, hours after meeting with Buhari.
Meanwhile, physically in attendance was the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and others.
The Head service of the Federation Folashade Yemi Esan and other Ministers are attended virtually from their various offices in Abuja.
