By Lukman Abolade
Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has domiciled the appointed oil and gas Ministers of State designate to the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President made the adjustments on Sunday evening among other cabinet reshuffle according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The initial appointments had included Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and Ekperikpe Ekpo assigned as Minister of State for Gas Resources. However, the dynamics swiftly shifted. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri’s portfolio was realigned to Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources, while Ekperipe Ekpo emerged as the new Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources.
The fact that President Tinubu did not name a substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources on the list of ministers that were screened by the Senate, is a strong signal that he has decided he will assume the role of Minister of Petroleum Resources.
In Nigeria, Ministers of State are essentially assistant ministers who support the main Minister in their respective areas of responsibility. More often than not, they are usually ‘ceremonial ministers’ to balance political appointments.
The Nigerian oil and gas sector has failed to live up to expectations in the last 15 years. Its persistently poor performance has hobbled he Nigerian economy.
Despite being the second largest holder of crude oil reserves in Africa, the sector’s performance has been marred by a combination of systemic issues that demand a comprehensive strategy for resolution.
The country’s oil and gas infrastructure, including refineries, pipelines, and storage facilities, have suffered from neglect and underinvestment. This deficiency has resulted in inefficiencies, leakages, and disruptions in the supply chain, affecting both domestic consumption and export capabilities.
Inadequate policy execution has impeded the sector’s growth. Bureaucratic bottlenecks and administrative inefficiencies have created hurdles for businesses operating in the sector. Lengthy approval processes, cumbersome regulatory requirements, and slow decision-making have discouraged innovation and delayed project implementation, leading to missed opportunities for growth.
