The Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency is already one. What that means is that it’s time for the stewardship account. In this special report, we are highlighting the performances of some key cabinet ministers who have covered themselves in glory in the last year of being in the saddle as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
1: Ezenwo Nyesome Wike
Ezenwo Nyesome Wike, the honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is no stranger to the Nigerian corridors of power. Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, has developed a reputation for excellence during his reign as governor. With his appointment as FCT Minister, the first southerner to be so appointed, he was expected to replicate his Rivers magic in the nation’s capital city, Abuja. And in fairness to Wike, he has lived up to our expectations. Even the opposition hailed him as one of the shining lights of the Tinubu administration.
Since assuming the leadership of the FCT, Wike has practically turned the nation’s capital into a huge construction site, with infrastructural projects littering the Abuja landscape from the city to the outskirts of Abuja. Inspired by the exemption given his administration from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), And with the autonomy over the resources accruing to the territory, Wike has wisely expended the resources under his control. And this is evident in the various projects executed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). It is little wonder that most of the projects commissioned by the president to commemorate his government’s first year in office were carried out by the Wike-led FCT administration. Apart from improving FCT’s aesthetics and functionality, Wike has prioritised infrastructural development and urban renewal since assuming office. In his first year of being the’ landlord of Abuja’, Wike has opened up new districts with a network of roads and bridges. And that’s not all; he has also revived the Moribound metro line, injected fresh innovation into the governance structure of the FCT, and rebuilt the access roads to the various stations.
Below are some of the significant projects executed by the Wike-led FCT Administration in the last year:
- Federal Secretariat (First Phase)
- Abuja Metro Line
- Southern Parkway
- Roads B6 and B12
- Completion of the Vice President’s Official Residence
- Wuye Interchange and Outer Southern Motorway (OSEX).
Wike has emerged as one of the most performing ministers in the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has demonstrated that his outstanding performances as River Governor were no flukes. Wike, along with a few other ministers, has contributed to the high ratings of the Tinubu presidency. Apart from his many infrastructural footprints across the FCT, Wike has also embarked on policies to block loopholes and combat corruption in the FCT administration.
2: Engr. Dave Umahi
Who doesn’t know Engr. Dave Umahi? As governor of Ebonyi State, Umahi covered himself in glory. In his current role as minister of works, the former governor has continued in his impressive work ethos, initiating new construction projects, overseeing the completion of abandoned projects, and breathing life into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi, just like his FCT counterpart, Minister Wike, has earned a deserved spot in President Tinubu’s government as one of the most outstanding ministers so far. Known for his relentless pursuit of excellence, Engr. Umahi, a well-trained engineer, has demonstrated that he knows his onions when it comes to road construction. Since assuming office, Umahi has deployed cost-effective ways of handling major government works without compromising on quality or durability. For instance, Umahi’s preference for concrete pavements has significantly reduced the costs of major construction projects being carried out by his ministry.
Not the lazy type to sit in the comforts of his Abuja office and just dish out instructions, Umah has been everywhere—from Abuja to Abia to Ekiti and every other part of the country—monitoring projects and ensuring that the job is done within the stipulated time in the contract agreements. So far, Umahi has inspected the on-going Bende Ohafia Arochukwu road and other projects, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road as well as the as the Lokoja-Okene road. His visibility has ensured the timely completion of major projects carried out by his ministry across the country. Apart from saving the government some necessary funds through the adoption of concrete pavement over asphalt, Umahi has embarked on some really ambitious legacy projects. And if the current pace of work is sustained, Umahi might be walking his way to historic reckoning as one of Nigeria’s best ministers in terms of infrastructural development. The legacy of the of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is arguably the highlight of Umahi’s administration in the last year. Described as the most ambitious projects ever embarked on by any government in Nigeria, they are directly under the supervision of Umahi and his people at the Ministry of Works. The massive coastal road project, which is designed to usher Nigeria into the class of developed nations, speaks volumes about Umahi’s capacity to dare the impossible. Not only that, Umahi is also championing the construction of the Badagry-Sokoto highway. The Ministry of Works has already completed the repair work on the new 3rd mainland bridge in Lagos. And the new third mainland bridge is now a thing of beauty in terms of elegance and functionality. That’s what the Umahi brand is known for—excellence. No doubt, Umahi has done well in the last twelve months or so of leading the ministry of works.
3: Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister for interior, alongside his counterparts in the ministries of works and aviation, Engr. Dave Umahi and Festus Keyamo, recently emerged winners in a poll organised by StreetJournal Newspaper as the top 3 ‘Super Ministers’ in the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tunji-Ojo’s over 80,000 votes garnered in the poll are a confirmation of his excellent track record within such a short period of being in charge of the Interior Ministry. The 42-year-old politician has restored hope in the capacity of the younger generation to perform excellently well at the highest level of governance in Nigeria. Call him the reforms minister, and you’d have hit the nail on the head. Best known for his business-like approach to things, Tunji-Ojo has brought urgency and competency to the affairs of his ministry. Barely a few weeks after his appointment, Tunji-Ojo hit the ground running with reforms in the interior ministry aimed at the betterment of operations under the ministry’s mandate. From cleaning up the National Identity Number (NIN) fraudulent practices (where he uncovered 2,400 foreigners with fake NINs) to home delivery of international passports to prison decongestion, Tunji-Ojo has covered himself in glory.
Equally worthy of mention is Tunji-Ojo’s innovative technology and seamless passport issuance process, which have reduced costs and eliminated unnecessary delays in passport issues. One of the major highlights of Tunji-Ojo’s first year in office is the clearance of a backlog of 204,000 passport applications pending before his appointment. Not only that, but the minister also introduced user-friendly e-platforms for visa applications. Tunji-Ojo’s other notable accomplishments include an e-passport for Nigerian citizens outside the shores of the country. In addition, he facilitated the installation of e-gates across all five international airports in Nigeria. Minister Tunji-Ojo also advocated for an improved welfare package for security personnel, which eventually resulted in a 25 to 35 percent increase in the salary structures of police officers, the armed forces, and so on, which was approved by the federal government on May 1, 2024. Minister Tunji-Ojo, a former House of Representatives member representing Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State from 2019 to 2023, has once again proved his mettle at the highest level of Nigeria’s political landscape. He matches actions with words. For Tunji-Ojo, it’s the story of a man who is in a hurry to contribute his own quota to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.