The Senate Wednesday confirmed the appointments of seven ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu last week.
The ministers-designate are Dr Nentawe Yilwatda for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Bianca Odinaka Odumegu – Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; and Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi for Labour and Employment.
The others are Dr Jumoke Oduwole , Minister of Industry, Trade and Development; Idi Muktar Maiha , Minister of Livestock Development; Rt Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State, Education.
Their confirmation followed separate screenings conducted on them in plenary on assigned portfolios.
During the screening exercise, the ministers-designate were tasked by senators to effect positive transformation in their respective ministries in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Specifically, the minister-designate for the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development Idi Mukhtar Maiha from Adamawa state was charged to bring about modern ways of livestock business and development in Nigeria.
Maiha had in his presentation before the Senate, submitted that the problem of farmers /herders clashes would be solved by making 417 grazing areas across the country functional.
“The 417 grazing areas in the country would be made to be practically suitable for livestock business by ensuring that they have sufficient grass and water to contain those animals.
In this way, we will require the support and solidarity of the National Assembly, the state governors, the local government, and the communities,” he said.
But the Senate advised him to look beyond the 417 grazing areas for way out of the incessant crises between farmers and herders.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Muntari Dandutse specifically told him to domesticate modernised ways of livestock development being practiced in China, Netherlands, Singapore etc.
In her presentation before the Senate, the minister-designate for Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole outlined her vision to revitalise Nigeria’s economy through focused investment, productivity, and job creation.
She highlighted the administration’s recent reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy and underscored the need for greater alignment of monetary, fiscal, trade, and industrial policies to promote sustainable growth.
“If confirmed, I would focus on three priority areas: investment retention and attraction, boosting exports and foreign exchange earnings, and creating productive jobs through a vibrant domestic industry”, she said.
She highlighted a recent $3 billion commitment from Jindal Steel Africa to Nigeria’s steel sector as evidence of the positive impact of the administration’s economic reforms.