Buhari Confirms He Is Reducing Nigerian Ministers

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday
confirmed, for the first time, the plan by his
administration to reduce the number of ministries
in the country.
There have been media reports that the
President’s Transition committee, led by Ahmed
Joda, had recommended a drastic reduction in the
number of ministries.
The plan is said to be one of the reasons behind
the delay in the formation of cabinet.
Buhari confirmed the plan at a meeting he had with
members of the Nigerian community in Benin
Republic on Saturday evening.
He was responding to a request for the creation of
two more Nigerian consulates in Benin Republic.
He said despite the planned reduction however, he
would direct the Nigerian ambassador to make the
request through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The President said, “I think I will direct your
ambassador to make the request to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, so that by the time we are doing
the next budget, it would be included.
“Although we are trying to cut down on the number
of ministries, the morale of Nigerians in the
Diaspora must be considered. This is because we
are so many.
“We are aggressive whether in business or other
facets of life. So, we, as a government, will do
everything possible to look after Nigerians
wherever they are.”
When members of the community requested to
know what his administration was doing to
facilitate their return home, Buhari told them to
remain where they were.
He said he would not want them to come and add
to the problems at home by the time they would
be unemployed.
“I believe a lot of you are doing well and are better
of here. So, the question of facilitating you to come
home does not arise.
“We don’t want you to come back home and be
unemployed. Don’t come and add to our problems.
“If you have something doing here please, continue
doing it.”
While warning them to remain law-abiding, the
President regretted that Nigerians in South Africa
had engaged in activities that did not portray the
country in good light.
“I have always told the Nigerian communities to
respect their hosts’ culture and obey their laws.
“There are a number of problems in South Africa
which did not portray us in good light as
Nigerians.
“Some of them are in prison for committing a
number of crimes. But for you who are so close
home, you should do your best in being good
ambassadors of the country,” he said.
On whether there is any cooperation between
Nigeria and Benin Republic in fighting Boko Haram,
Buhari said the country has identified with the
countries of Lake Chad Commission which
comprises of Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.
He said President Boni Yayi had made an
undertaken of providing a number of troops to the
joint task force troops of the Chad Basin
Commission countries to fight the Boko Haram.
“As you know, Nigeria is expected to make a
bigger contribution. By yesterday (Friday), we are
supposed to take the troops off the ground.
“So, Benin Republic, through the President, is
participating in fighting Boko Haram,” he said.
On their request for the opening of National Open
University in Benin, the President asked them to
pass their request through the ambassador who
will formally write the Ministry of Education.
He said the possibility of expanding the facility to
them would be considered.