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The Presidency on Saturday sparked confusion after a graphic image shared on its official X account listed two individuals as executive secretaries for the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI).
This development followed President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of several appointments in government agencies on Friday, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD).
Initially, Yazid Shehu was announced as the executive secretary of SMDF/PAGMI in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy.
However, hours later, Onanuga issued another statement clarifying that Shehu’s appointment had been cancelled because “there is no vacancy in the agency.” Fatima Shinkafi was subsequently reappointed to the position.
The confusion deepened when the presidency’s graphic image listed both Shinkafi and Danfulani as executive secretaries of SMDF/PAGMI.
Sources told TheCable that Danfulani’s inclusion was influenced by Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence, who allegedly leveraged his position to push for his former employee’s appointment.
Danfulani previously served as the commissioner of commerce and industry under Matawalle’s administration in Zamfara State.
However, Dale Alake, the minister of solid minerals who oversees SMDF/PAGMI, reportedly intervened after becoming aware of the dual appointments, leading to the withdrawal of Danfulani’s appointment.
The presidency later made a U-turn, reaffirming Shinkafi as the sole executive secretary of SMDF/PAGMI.
