Nwifuru reshuffles Ebonyi cabinet, swears in two new commissioners

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The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has reshuffled his cabinet, redeploying several commissioners to new ministries in what the state government described as a move to strengthen governance and improve service delivery.

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The reshuffle was announced on Tuesday following the State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, Channels TV reports

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Briefing journalists, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, said the exercise followed the swearing-in of two new commissioners, Omari Omaka and Sylvester Nwenu Nwite, as well as the inauguration of Felix Onyekachi Njoku as Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation.

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According to Omebeh, Governor Nwifuru urged the newly appointed officials to regard their appointments as a call to selfless service and contribute to the implementation of his administration’s People’s Charter of Needs agenda.

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Under the new arrangement, Omaka was appointed Commissioner for Tertiary Education, while Nwite was assigned to head the Ministry of Environment.

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Several existing commissioners were also redeployed.

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Chidiebere Onyia moved from the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, while Ajuka Obasi Nwogo was transferred from the Ministry of Market Development to the Ministry of Skill Acquisition.

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Prince Richard Idike was redeployed from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to the Ministry of Capital City and Urban Development, while Sunday Elechi Inyima moved from the Ministry of Capital City and Urban Development to the Ministry of Project Monitoring.

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Ngozi Obichukwu was transferred from the Ministry of Aviation to the Ministry of Special Projects, Magnus Chinedu Nka moved from the Ministry of Water Resources to the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, Victor Uzoma Chukwu was reassigned from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Water Resources, while Okwu Oko Udu was redeployed to head the Ministry of Market Development.

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Governor Nwifuru directed that all handing-over and taking-over processes be concluded immediately, with a deadline of the close of work on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

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Several commissioners retained their portfolios, including Ben Uruchi Odoh (Justice), Ikeuwa Omebeh (Information and State Orientation), Stanley Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism), Donatus Ilang (Primary and Secondary Education), Elechi Nnanna Elechi (Trade and Investment), Jude Okpor (Rural Development), Oguzor Offia Nwali (Commerce and Industry), Solomon Azi (Grants and Donor Agencies), Collins Emeka Igboke (Transportation) and Chinwe Deborah Okah (Budget and Planning).

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Responding to questions on whether the reshuffle was prompted by poor performance, Omebeh said it was instead aimed at repositioning the administration for greater efficiency.

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“This is not about non-performance or removing anyone from office. It is about deploying people to ministries where their expertise and experience can be better utilised in the interest of the state,” he said.

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According to Channels Tv, he added that the governor considered the professional backgrounds, experience and comparative advantages of each commissioner before approving the redeployments.

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On concerns over the absence of a commissioner for the Ministry of Aviation following Obichukwu’s redeployment, Omebeh said the ministry had not been scrapped but would continue to operate under its Permanent Secretary pending further directives.

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He maintained that the cabinet reshuffle would inject fresh energy into governance and improve policy implementation across ministries in the state.

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