President Bola Tinubu has reportedly barred several ministers from leaving the country amid rumors of an impending cabinet shake-up.
Nigerian US-based investigative journalist Jackson Ude revealed that several ministers, aware of their likely exclusion from the next cabinet, sought permission to travel abroad.
Their reasons ranged from medical attention to attending their children’s graduations or taking brief vacations. One such case involved Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, who requested to visit Egypt to see his wife and some of his 30 children. However, his request was denied by President Tinubu, who ordered him to return to Sokoto and address the growing security concerns in the state.
This move suggests that the President is focusing on addressing pressing domestic challenges, especially insecurity.
While many ministers are now reportedly laying low, awaiting an official announcement of their fate, insiders suggest that Tinubu only has confidence in three of the current ministers.
Nonetheless, it is not expected that all 45 will be sacked, with some possibly being retained based on their performance.