Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga has criticized the media for attributing the title of Minister of Petroleum to President Tinubu.
Speaking on Channels TV’s programme, Sunday Politics, Onanuga clarified that two ministers have been designated to oversee the oil and gas sectors in the country.
Onanuga stated that it was incorrect for the media to assume that Tinubu appointed himself as minister of petroleum while emphasizing that the administration is committed to reviving Nigeria’s gas production industry.
“You in the media assigned him that title,” Onanuga said. “There are two ministers responsible for petroleum, and one of them is focused on gas.”
He further noted that the current government recognizes the historical neglect of the gas sector in Nigeria, which has more potential as a gas-producing country than as an oil-producing one.
”This present government found that in the past, Nigeria neglected the gas sector. Nigeria is more of a gas country than an oil country,” he said
”Former president Obasanjo recently said he made a mistake by not focusing on gas and Tinubu is rectifying that.”
It would be recalled that In 2023, Tinubu appointed Ekperipe Ekpo as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) and Heineken Lokpobiri as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil).
In contrast, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed himself as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
During his first term, Buhari appointed Ibe Kachikwu to the position of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, who was later replaced by Timipre Sylva in his second term.
