June 29 (THEWILL) — The Ebonyi State Government on Monday announced a major cabinet reshuffle, with several commissioners redeployed to new ministries in a move aimed at strengthening governance and consolidating the achievements of the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Ikeuwa Omebeh, while briefing journalists at the Old Cabinet Office in Abakaliki after the State Executive Council meeting.
Omebeh said the reshuffle followed the swearing-in of two new commissioners, Professor Omari Omaka and Hon. Sylvester Nwenu Nwite, as well as the inauguration of Hon. Felix Onyekachi Njoku as Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation.
According to him, the governor charged the newly appointed officials to regard their appointments as a call to selfless service and contribute meaningfully to the consolidation of the administration’s People’s Charter of Needs agenda.
Under the new postings, Chidiebere Onya was redeployed from the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, while Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu moved from the Ministry of Aviation to the Ministry of Special Projects.
Hon. Sylvester Nwenu Nwite, one of the newly sworn-in commissioners, was assigned to head the Ministry of Environment, while Professor Omari Omaka was appointed Commissioner for Tertiary Education.
Also affected by the reshuffle, Professor Ajuka Obasi Nwogo was moved from the Ministry of Market Development to the Ministry of Skill Acquisition, while Okwu Oko Udu was redeployed to the Ministry of Market Development.
Similarly, Magnus Chinedu Nka was reassigned from the Ministry of Water Resources to the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, while Victor Uzoma Chukwu moved from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Water Resources.
Prince Richard Idike was transferred 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.
Nwifuru directed that the handing-over and taking-over process be concluded immediately and not later than the close of work on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
Responding to questions on whether the reshuffle was prompted by poor performance, Omebeh dismissed the suggestion, insisting that the exercise was designed to reposition the administration for greater efficiency.
He explained that the governor considered the professional backgrounds, experience, and comparative advantages of members of the Executive Council before approving the redeployments.
“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,” Omebeh said.
The commissioner also clarified concerns over the omission of the Ministry of Aviation from the list of commissioners, explaining that the ministry had not been scrapped despite the redeployment of its commissioner.
According to him, the ministry will continue to function under its existing administrative structure headed by the Permanent Secretary pending further directives from the state government.
Omebeh reiterated the administration’s commitment to effective service delivery, stating that the cabinet reshuffle was intended to inject fresh energy into governance and enhance the implementation of government policies across all sectors.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
