The Presidency has withdrawn a recently published list of political appointees, citing errors. This was disclosed by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Notably, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, was absent from the list.
The list sparked controversy, especially due to the underrepresentation of the South-east region, which had the fewest appointments — only 16. While Mr. Dare did not specify the reason for the list’s initial release, the move appears linked to growing allegations of nepotism against President Tinubu.
Since assuming office in May 2023, critics have accused the president of favoring his South-west geopolitical zone in federal appointments.
Breakdown of Appointments by Region
South-West (29 appointees)
- Bosun Tijani – Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
- Wale Edun – Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
- Bunmi Tunji-Ojo – Minister of Interior
- Adebayo Adelabu – Minister of Power
- Dele Alake – Minister of Solid Minerals Development
- Dr. Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
- Adegboyega Oyetola – Minister of Marine & Blue Economy
- Olayemi Cardoso – Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
- Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja – Chief of Army Staff
- Kayode Egbetokun – Inspector General of Police
- Zaccheus Adedeji – Chairman, FIRS
- Adeola Ajayi – Director General, DSS
- Bashir Adewale Adeniyi – Comptroller-General, Customs
- Olanipekun Olukoyede – Chairman, EFCC
- Kayode Isiak Opeifa – MD, Nigerian Railway Corporation
- Oluwasegun Faleye – MD/CEO, NSITF
- Vincent Olatunji – NSITF
- Raji Kazeem Kolawole – MD/CEO, NIGCOMSAT
- Bayo Onanuga – DG, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)
- Sunday Dare – Special Adviser, Information and Strategy
- Tope Kolade Fasua – Special Adviser, Public Communications Orientation
- Peju Adedajo – Special Adviser, Economic Matters (VP’s Office)
- Temitola Asekunle-Johnson – SSA, Investment & Privatisation (VP’s Office)
- Mariam Temitope – SSA, Job Creation & MSMEs (VP’s Office)
- Tunde Rahman – SSA, Regional Development Programmes
- Moremi Ojudu – SSAP, Community Engagement
- Tope Ajayi – SSA, Media and Public Affairs
- Segun Dada – SA, Social Media
- Demola Oshodi – SSA, Protocol
North-Central (25 appointees)
- Shuaibu Audu – Minister of Steel Development
- Muhammed Idris – Minister of Information
- Zaphanian Jisalo – Minister of Special Duties
- Lateef Fagbemi – Minister of Justice
- Joseph Utsev – Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation
- Nentawe Yilwatde – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
- Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim – Minister of State, Police Affairs
- Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi – Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security
- Bashir Bayo Ojulari – GMD, NNPC Ltd.
- Amb. Mohammed Mohammed – DG, National Intelligence Agency
- Dr. Idris A. Sulaimon – DG, NBC
- Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi – Commandant General, NSCDC
- Engr. Jaji O. Abdulganiyu – Controller General, Federal Fire Service
- Kemi Nandap – Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service
- Haruna Y. Usman – Chairman, Upper Niger River Basin Authority
- Dangajere Shuaibu Bawa Jaja – MD, Upper Niger River Basin Authority
- Dr. Amos Gizo Yadukso – Chairman, Lower Benue River Basin Authority
- Engr. Ninga Terese – MD, Lower Benue River Basin Authority
- Abiodun Essiet – SSAP, Community Engagement
- Gimba Kakanda – SSA, Research and Analytics (VP’s Office)
- Isaq Ahmed Ningi – SSA, Digital Media & Emergency Management
- Aliyu Audu – SA, Public Affairs
- Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe – Chairman, NHIA
- Tunde Ajibulu – Deputy Executive Secretary (Services), UBEC
- Sunday Sylva Togo Echono – Executive Secretary, TETFUND
North-East (14 appointees)
- Abubakar Kyari – Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
- Idi Mukhtar Maiha – Minister of Livestock Development
- Sa’idu Alkali – Minister of Transportation
- Yusuf Tuggar – Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Muhammad Ali Pate – Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare
- Ibrahim Gaidam – Minister of Police Affairs
- Uba Maigari Ahmadu – Minister of State for Regional Development
- Ahmadu Musa Kida – Non-executive Chairman, NNPC Ltd.
- Nuhu Ribadu – National Security Adviser
- Mohammed Buba Marwa – Chairman, NDLEA
- Hajiya Hafsat Bakari – CEO, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit
- Prof. Abdu Dauda – Chairman, Chad Basin Development Authority
- Tijjani Musa Tumsa – MD, Chad Basin Development Authority
- Alh. Sanusi Mohammed Babantanko – Chairman, Upper Benue River Basin Authority
The imbalance in regional representation, particularly the dominance of the South-west, has intensified scrutiny of President Tinubu’s appointments. With the list now withdrawn for review, the presidency may be under pressure to ensure broader inclusion in future announcements.
