President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has named senior lawyer Sunusi Musa and Muhammad Babangida, son of Nigeria’s former military leader Ibrahim Babangida, among eight new appointees to key federal agencies, signaling a reshuffle in the administration’s leadership strategy. The appointments, announced on Friday by the president’s office, span institutions overseeing education, trade, agriculture, and energy, reflecting priorities in economic development and regional cooperation.
A statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the nominations, which include chairpersons, directors-general, and managing directors. Sunusi Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has been appointed Chairman of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), an agency tasked with mitigating communal tensions and fostering national unity. Muhammad Babangida will lead the Bank of Agriculture, a critical institution in Nigeria’s efforts to boost food security and agrarian investment. His selection draws attention due to his family’s political legacy, though the statement emphasized expertise as the basis for all appointments.
The roster extends to regional representatives from Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Oyo States, underscoring efforts to balance geographic diversity. Lydia Kalat Musa, from Kaduna, will chair the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), a regulator for industrial hubs tied to Nigeria’s energy sector. Kano State officials Jamilu Wada Aliyu and Yahuza Ado Inuwa were named to lead the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), respectively, bodies pivotal to curriculum reforms and product quality control.
Technical and diplomatic roles were also filled, with Sokoto’s Prof. Al-Mustapha Aliyu appointed Director-General of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), which coordinates Nigeria’s development partnerships across the continent. Sanusi Garba Rikiji of Zamfara will head the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN), aligning with broader aims to bolster foreign trade terms. Meanwhile, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, from Oyo State, takes the helm at the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), addressing energy infrastructure and community needs in resource-rich regions.
The final appointee, Dr. Abdulmumini Aminu-Zaria of Kaduna, will serve as Executive Director of the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), an entity critical to resolving water-related disputes and sustainability challenges.
Analysts note the sweeping appointments arrive amid ongoing economic reforms, including fuel subsidy cuts and currency adjustments, which have strained public sentiment. By installing leaders across sectors tied to food security, energy, and education, the administration appears to prioritize stabilizing key areas of governance. While critics often scrutinize political legacies in such decisions, the emphasis on technical backgrounds—from legal expertise to academic leadership—suggests a focus on institutional competency. As these appointees assume their roles, their effectiveness in addressing Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges will likely shape perceptions of Tinubu’s reform agenda both domestically and internationally.
