Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, had on Sunday, October 27 during an interview on TVC clarified that the President is not assuming the role of Minister of Petroleum but rather addressing former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s oversight in gas development.
Onanuga emphasized that President Tinubu has never claimed the title of Petroleum Minister, a position that Obasanjo himself acknowledged was mishandled during his tenure.
Instead, he noted that Tinubu’s administration has appointed two ministers to oversee the Petroleum Ministry, with one specifically dedicated to gas.
“The President has never called himself the Minister of Petroleum; it’s you people in the media,” Onanuga stated.
He explained that the current administration recognizes Nigeria’s potential as a gas-rich nation, emphasizing the need to shift focus away from oil.
He referenced Obasanjo’s recent comments, where the former president admitted to neglecting gas during his time in office, stating, “President Tinubu is rectifying that by making sure we focus on gas.”
According to Onanuga, the Tinubu administration is committed to maximizing Nigeria’s gas resources, which have been historically overlooked.
The presidential aide reiterated that President Tinubu supervises all his ministers, ensuring a cohesive strategy for the country’s energy sector, with a strong emphasis on the development of gas resources as a critical component of Nigeria’s economic future.