Tinubu appoints Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu as Foreign Affairs Minister, nominates Enikanolaiye, and Rabiu Abdullahi Umar to head NMDPRA

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to contest in the 2027 elections.

Odumegwu‑Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the ministry. In the same development, the President has nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation. Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, currently serves as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is a seasoned diplomat with over three decades of service, having held postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi, and previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), the appointments are part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships. President Tinubu congratulated the appointees and urged them to promote Nigeria’s national interest, advance economic diplomacy, foster regional stability, and safeguard the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad.

In another development, President Tinubu has approved the removal of Mr Saidu Mohammed as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). He has nominated Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive, subject to Senate confirmation.

The decision, made under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the petroleum sector. Umar, a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and alumnus of Harvard Business School, brings over 25 years of experience across energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. Pending Senate confirmation, the most senior official of the NMDPRA will oversee operations in an acting capacity.

President Tinubu thanked the outgoing chief executive for his service and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth.