Analysts are calling on President Tinubu to step down as Petroleum Minister, highlighting governance and strategic concerns. Explore the factors driving these calls and what it could mean for Nigeria’s energy sector.
Two public commentators have urged President Bola Tinubu to transfer his role as the acting Minister of Petroleum to a qualified Nigerian.
Baba Yusuf and Femi Odeere contended that since he formed his cabinet in August 2023, keeping the position of petroleum minister for himself has not improved the nation’s daily oil production at all.
They argued that major oil-producing nations such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates do not have their presidents serving as petroleum ministers.
Yusuf and Odeere appeared on “Inside Sources,” a socio-political program hosted by Laolu Akande, which was broadcasted on Channels Television last Friday.
Yusuf, a former Managing Director of NAHCO Free Trade Zone, stated, “I think the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should not get sidetracked by handling the petroleum portfolio.”
The presidents of the four largest oil-producing countries in the world should not be serving as ministers of petroleum.
When it comes to sophistication, the United Kingdom excels. Unlike this, in the United States of America, the president does not oversee such a portfolio.
“You won’t find the president managing the portfolio of petroleum or any other in countries like China, Russia, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia when it comes to population size.”
Yusuf urged Tinubu to “step out from the influence and complexities of the oil and gas sector. The President should delegate responsibilities related to petroleum to a dedicated individual, ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.”
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He encouraged the president to downsize his cabinet, noting that having two ministers in charge of a single ministry has not improved productivity and performance over time.
Odeere, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, concurred with Yusuf’s view that Tinubu should discontinue the tradition of Nigerian presidents appointing themselves as petroleum ministers.
This highlights the inefficiency of our current system. Why do we have ministers for various portfolios, yet suddenly claim that only the president can manage oil?
In my view, this indicates that we still lack understanding of how to manage and calibrate our system in a manner that guarantees anyone involved will act appropriately. Furthermore, if they fail to do so, the system should remove them effectively.
“Obasanjo initiated this tradition, and for some reason, the presidents who followed have continued it. Perhaps there’s something unknown to me that prompts them to oversee the petroleum portfolio personally.”
In August 2023, approximately three months following his inauguration as Nigeria’s president, Tinubu appointed 48 ministers. He named Heineken Lokpobiri as the Minister of State for Oil and Ekperipe Ekpo as the Minister of State for Gas while choosing to retain the position of senior petroleum minister himself, similar to what Muhammadu Buhari did during his tenure.
In January 2024, Betta Edu, one of Tinubu’s 48 ministers, was suspended. Meanwhile, another minister from his cabinet, Simon Lalong, resigned to join the Senate.
Amidst Nigeria’s faltering economy, soaring inflation, and deteriorating security situation, former Lagos governor Tinubu has encountered significant criticism regarding the performance of his ministers over the past 15 months since their appointment.
On Wednesday, the President responded to demands for a cabinet shake-up by dismissing five ministers, reassigning ten others, and making seven new appointments.
