Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Nov. 7 -- Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua is replacing his gas and power ministers in a cabinet reshuffle that builds on other restructuring within the country's petroleum sector.
Emmanuel Olatunde Odusina, Nigeria's Minister of State for Energy (Gas) has been ousted as has Alhaja Fatima Ibrahim, Minister of State for Energy (Power).
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources was split earlier this year into power, gas, and petroleum, with separate ministers heading each strand. At the same time it was renamed the Energy Ministry.
However, Yar'Adua has again consolidated the three divisions to streamline them under the name of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and he will appoint one minister to head it. He is compiling a list of ministerial nominees to send to the Senate in the coming days.
Other reforms include the creation of a new, separate ministry for the Niger Delta to coordinate a response to the crises in that area, where militants continue to attack oil company pipelines and installations.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].