It also confirmed Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The confirmation followed a letter sent by President Bola Tinubu to the Senate on Tuesday, which was read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In the letter, the President requested the screening and confirmation of both nominees in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Joseph Tegbe, who hails from Oyo State, is a seasoned fiscal and economic reform expert with more than 35 years of experience spanning both public service and the private sector. He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led major projects focused on fiscal policy reforms, governance improvements, institutional transformation, and regulatory frameworks.

He has also worked extensively with government institutions and private organisations on strategic reforms, investment structuring, and policy development.

His nomination comes following the resignation of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

Wike made the remarks on Wednesday during his monthly media chat, where he accused Obi of abandoning parties whenever they encounter internal challenges instead of staying to resolve them.

According to him, Obi has moved from APGA to the PDP, then to the Labour Party, and later to the ADC, arguing that each switch followed crises within the parties.

He also took a swipe at Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, questioning his role as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum.

“How can you be the chairman of one member?” Wike asked, referencing internal developments within the forum.

Speaking further, Wike said Obi’s political journey reflects a pattern of instability.

“Obi was in APGA. He couldn’t build APGA and left eventually. He came to PDP and said one man is dominating everything. He went to the Labour Party, but they had a crisis, and he ran away to ADC. Now, ADC has problems, and he has run from ADC to NDC,” Wike said.

He added that Obi’s behaviour shows he is constantly searching for personal convenience rather than building lasting political structures.

He made the clarification while speaking at the Nasarawa Economic Summit 2026, where he served as Special Guest of Honour.

Shettima explained that the decision triggered major shifts in petrol prices and the overall cost of living, but insisted that the reforms were necessary to rescue Nigeria’s economy from deeper crisis.

According to him, the Tinubu administration inherited a fragile economic situation, including very low foreign reserves that could barely support fuel imports for a short period.

“Some of the economic decisions that the Presidency took were almost inevitable because even our national reserves were paltry and not even enough to import fuel for one month,” he said.

He added that President Tinubu deliberately avoided announcing the severity of the situation publicly at the time, instead taking what he described as a difficult but necessary step behind the scenes.

“The removal of the fuel subsidy was not part of his official speech. He kept it close to his heart,” Shettima stated.

The Vice President also maintained that the administration’s reforms are beginning to yield positive results, noting improvements in investor confidence, capital market performance, and foreign reserves.

He claimed that the economy is gradually stabilising, with rising stock values and renewed interest from investors.

“Confidence is returning to the marketplace… Capital follows credibility, stability, and direction,” he said.

Shettima’s comments come shortly after President Tinubu told investors in Paris that Nigeria had achieved foreign exchange stability following the removal of fuel subsidy, describing it as a key step in easing economic pressure.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Wale Edun and other officials have continued to defend the policy, insisting it has helped remove long-standing distortions in the economy and will support long-term growth despite short-term hardship.

The subsidy removal remains one of the most controversial reforms of the Tinubu administration, with government officials highlighting economic gains while many Nigerians continue to feel the impact on transport, food, and living costs.