Why Buhari changed name of Ministry of Communications

The Ministry of Communications has a new name and there's some science behind it all, believe it or not.

President Muhammadu Buhari has renamed the Ministry of Communications at the behest of new Minister, Isa Ali Pantami.

The Ministry of Communications will now be known as the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

In a statement signed by a Deputy Director in the Ministry, Mrs Philomena Oshodin, the federal government said: “The ministry which supervises the ICT Sector has been renamed The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to further expand its mandate to capture the goals of digitalisation of the Nigerian economy in line with the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP), one of the key agenda of the present administration."

Pantami is minister of communications (Daily Trust) Pantami is minister of communications (Daily Trust) Pulse Nigeria

According to the minister, the old name had become limiting and obsolete and did not reflect the trends as emphasized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Pantami said: “ICT contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 13.85 percent in the second quarter of 2019. The change of nomenclature will propel the ministry to reposition its strategic objectives as laid out in the priority areas of this administration while accelerating growth and social inclusion.”

The minister “cited examples of global and African economies like Scotland, Thailand, Tunisia, Benin Republic and Burkina Faso among others, who have adopted deliberate strategies and created Ministries of Digital Economy in line with global best practice, and especially the European Union which has a commissioner for Digital Economy."

President Muhammadu Buhari in a meeting at the villa (Presidency) Pulse Nigeria

In a letter containing his approval, President Buhari “noted that the request is in line with global best practice which will further reflect the priorities of his administration. The approved name has been announced and adopted by the Federal Executive Council today, 23rd October 2019.”

Pantami, 47, was sworn-in as federal minister alongside 42 others on August 21, 2019.

President Buhari read out the riot act to his new ministers on inauguration day, as he strives to achieve his set goals, after being re-elected for a second term in office on February 23, 2019.