El-Rufai reshuffles cabinet after KASUPDA boss’ arrest by EFCC

Barely 24 hours after the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the Director-General of Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency (KASUPDA), Ismail Umaru Dikko, Governor Nasir el-Rufai has announced the reshuffling of his cabinet.

Details surrounding the KASUPDA boss’ arrest remains sketchy at the time of this report, but The Guardian gathered that he did not honour EFCC’s earlier invitation until he was whisked away by agents of the anti-graft agency, yesterday.

Sources, however, said the KASUPDA boss regained his freedom, same yesterday.

Meanwhile, the governor has assigned new portfolios to some commissioners and senior government officials.

El-Rufai, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Communication), Muyiwa Adekeye, said the reshuffle was designed to harness fresh energy for the government’s final lap, bring new insights and enable the commissioners to have more rounded experience of the government.

According to the statement, eight of the 14 commissioners swapped portfolios.

“There were no changes in the ministries of Finance, Justice, Health, Housing and Urban Development, Internal Security and Home Affairs as well as Human Services and Social Development,” it noted.

The Chief of Staff (CoS), Muhammad Abdullahi, was redeployed to the Planning and Budget Commission, The Guardian learnt.

He added: “The new portfolios are: Jaafaru Sani (Environment), Thomas Gyang (Public Works and Infrastructure), Halima Lawal (Education), Ibrahim Hussaini (Agriculture), Shehu Muhammad (Local Government), Muhammad Abdullahi (Planning and Budget Commission), Kabir Mato (Business, Innovation and Technology) and Idris Nyam (Sports Development).

“Following the passage of the law creating metropolitan authorities to manage Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria as organic cities, el-Rufai nominated the following cabinet-rank administrators: Balaraba Aliyu-Inuwa (Zaria Metropolitan Authority), Muhammad Bayero (Kaduna Capital Territory) and Phoebe Yayi (Kafanchan Municipal Authority).”