The appointment was announced on Friday in a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

Adeola will lead the committee alongside several industry and financial experts, including Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Osagie Okunbor, Abubakar Suleiman, Adaeze Aguele, Farouk Gumel, Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye and Seyi Bella, while Mofoluwasho Fadayomi will serve as secretary.

President Tinubu directed the task force to develop practical reform strategies that will strengthen ongoing changes in the petroleum industry, attract new investment, and position Nigeria as a leading global energy investment destination.

The formation of the committee follows the announcement of Presidential Executive Order 09 on February 13, 2026, which requires that all government petroleum revenues be paid directly into the federation account.

Key Facts About Fola Adeola

Fola Adeola was born on January 13, 1953. He attended Methodist Boys’ High School in Lagos and later studied at Yaba College of Technology.

He is widely known as the co-founder of Guaranty Trust Holding Company, the parent company of Guaranty Trust Bank, which he established in 1990 with Tayo Aderinokun. Adeola served as the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer until 2002.

Beyond banking, he founded the FATE Foundation and currently chairs MainOne.

In public service, Adeola previously served as board chairman of the National Pension Commission between December 2004 and June 2006. He also chaired the Lagos State Disaster Relief Committee.

Politically, he was the vice-presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the 2011 presidential election, running alongside Nuhu Ribadu.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, the governor expressed deep sorrow over reports that gunmen ambushed a group of farmers from Ojantelle, Asaba and Akpete who had gone to harvest cashew seeds on their farm.

The attack reportedly left several people dead, while six others remain missing and a young girl was abducted.

Alia described the incident as a terrorist act and a disturbing reminder of the security challenges facing peaceful farming communities in the state.

He questioned why individuals pursuing their legitimate livelihood would be targeted, stressing that hardworking farmers in Benue do not deserve such violence. The governor said the killing of innocent citizens carrying out their daily farm activities is unacceptable and an affront to humanity.

He sympathised with the people of the affected communities, the Apa Local Government Area authorities, and the families of the victims, assuring them that the state government stands with them during the difficult period.

Alia also revealed that he has directed security agencies to intensify operations in the area to track down those responsible, rescue the abducted girl, and locate the missing persons. He assured residents that every effort would be made to ensure the perpetrators face justice.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Benue State, noting that no community would be left vulnerable to violence.

He urged residents not to lose hope, adding that the government is working closely with security agencies and community leaders to strengthen security in vulnerable areas.

Alia also prayed for the souls of those who lost their lives and asked God to grant their families the strength to bear the loss, assuring that his administration will continue working until residents can return to their farms without fear.

Keyamo made the announcement on Friday during an inspection visit to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he assessed the implementation of the new payment system.

The minister stressed that the government remains committed to enforcing the cashless policy introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

He noted that allowing VIP exemptions had significantly affected airport revenue and insisted the practice would no longer continue. According to him, many people in Abuja claim VIP status, which has contributed to revenue losses.

Keyamo also revealed that Bola Tinubu has given him a deadline to ensure the aviation sector fully adopts the cashless system. He stated that the directive from the president means the policy must be implemented without delay.

The minister added that he would personally oversee the process rather than leaving the implementation solely to FAAN, saying he is determined to ensure the hybrid payment system works effectively before transitioning fully to a cashless system.

The Nigerian government had earlier planned to enforce a fully cashless payment system at airports from March 1, 2026. However, the policy was temporarily suspended after it caused heavy traffic congestion at airport entrances.