President might also serve as Petroleum Minister

According to reports, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buharimight head the country’s petroleum ministry himself as part of his war against corruption.

Sources close to Buhari are said to have revealed this adding that the President is wary of trusting anyone else with the position, according to Reuters.

One of the sources, who chose to remain anonymous, added that “Nigeria’s oil sector is so dirty that nobody’s hands are clean enough to do the “surgical changes” needed.

“He will do it. It would be stupid to give that position to anyone else,” an associate of the President reportedly said.

Buhari has however not released his proposed ministerial list and media aide, Garba Shehu has urged Nigerians to be patient with the President as the process of choosing the cabinet is not one to be rushed.

Nigeria’s oil sector currently contributes over 80 per cent of the country’s revenue but is a “traditional fount of corruption” thus the country is robbed of much needed funds.

The President is not likely to be out of his depth as he has vast knowledge of the oil sector, having been head of the Petroleum Trust Fund under late dictator, Sani Abacha and oil minister under Olusegun Obasanjo.

Buhari would also not be the first Nigerian leader to take the step as Obasanjo did without a Petroleum Minister for most of the two terms he spent in office as a democratically elected President.