President Muhammadu Buhari

Speculations that PresidentMuhammadu Buhari would reappoint immediate Minister of Transport, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi to his position was Tuesday, brought to an abrupt end, as the president has nominated seven new ministers as replacement of those that resigned their appointments last month.

Recall that Amaechi and three other ministers comprising Ogbonnaya Onu of Science and Technology, Godswill Akpabio of Niger Delta Affairs and Prof Emeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education had all resigned in pursuit of their presidential aspiration, which however could not materialise.

Recall also that Minister of State for Transport, Senator Gbemi Saraki, has since effectively taken over the running of the ministry and has since Monday, commenced a one-week tour of all the agencies under the ministry as well as some port facilities in Lagos, which is expected to end Friday with media and stakeholders’ engagement.

Meanwhile, the president has forwarded the seven new nominees to the Senate for possible consideration and confirmation as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Their nomination is contained in a letter addressed to President of Senate, Dr .Ahmad Lawan, which he read at plenary, Tuesday.

The list of the seven new ministerial nominees contained in the president’s letter to the Senate include: Udum Odi (Rivers), who expectedly takes over Amaechi’s slot, Henry Ikechukwu (Abia), Umana Okon-Umana(Akwa-Ibom), Ekuma Joseph (Ebonyi), Goodluck Obia (Imo) Umar Ibrahim(Kano) and Ademola Adewole (Ondo).

President Buhari said it was his expectation to receive the usual expeditious consideration and confirmation of the nominees by the Senate.