Tinubu Has Never Referred To Himself As Petroleum Minister- Presidency Clarifies

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday night refuted claims that the president is acting as Nigeria’s petroleum minister.

Onanuga made this clarification during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. When asked about whether the president intends to retain the title of ‘Minister of Petroleum,’ Onanuga expressed frustration, stating that Tinubu has never referred to himself in such a manner, and noted that there are already two ministers overseeing the oil sector.

“I’ve addressed this before, The President has never called himself the Minister of Petroleum; that title was assigned to him by the media. We have two ministers handling this area, one of whom is dedicated to gas. This administration recognizes that the gas sector has been neglected in the past. Nigeria is predominantly a gas country, more than an oil country.

“Recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo admitted he made a mistake by not prioritizing gas during his tenure. President Tinubu is correcting that by focusing on gas now. The president oversees all his ministers and is in charge of every ministry under his purview,” Onanuga explained.

He also emphasized that Tinubu is aware of the challenges facing Nigerians, countering claims of presidential indifference.

“President Tinubu understands the struggles of Nigerians and assures them that relief is on the way. Some may jokingly refer to him as ‘T-pain,’ but that’s not accurate. He is here to heal, not to harm.

“The President has always acknowledged the difficulties Nigerians are experiencing. He is working diligently to provide relief and to guide the nation toward a prosperous future.

“This transition may be painful, but it is part of a long-term strategy to stabilize and grow the economy,” Onanuga concluded.