Cross Rivers State Governor, Ben Ayade has nominated himself as the commissioner of the Oil and Gas ministry.
Governor Ayade made the disclosure while presenting the 2016 budget of N350 billion to the Cross Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday.
According to him, the decision to hold onto the juicy portfolio is based on the fact that the state would be looking forward to expanding more economic frontiers, including oil exploration. “My intention is to expand governance beyond the ordinary level, for which reason I am creating new and more ministries, and appointment of vibrant, young and intelligent persons as our envoys to foreign countries and international institutions,” he said.
Governor Ayade also told the Assembly that he would soon appoint envoys to the United Kingdom, United States of America, Japan as well as European and African countries.
Already, the governor has created additional ministries to pave way for the 28 commissioners’ designate cleared by the State House of Assembly last week.
Some of the new ministries Ayade has created include that of International relations, economy, oil and gas, among others. He said the people of the state need not be afraid of where money would come from to fund the ministries and other projects.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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