Tinubu reappoints Fatima Shinkafi as SMDF executive secretary, cancels Danfulani’s appointment

President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the appointment of Yazid Danfulani, announced as the executive secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI).

Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, said in a release on Friday that Tinubu cancelled Danfulani’s appointment because “there is no vacancy in the agency”.

Onanuga said the president renewed the appointment of Fatima Shinkafi as the executive secretary of SMDF.

“The President also approved the renewal of the appointment of Fatima Umaru Shinkafi as the executive secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI),” the statement reads.

“She was first appointed to the job by President Buhari and is said to be one of the driving forces behind the changes in the solid mineral sector.

“The earlier announcement about the appointment of Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani as the executive secretary of the SMDF/PAGMI has been cancelled as there is no vacancy in the agency.”

Earlier, Onanuga announced that Tinubu has approved the appointment of chief executive officers (CEOs) for the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) as well as SMDF/PAGMI.