Tight Security At The Presidential Villa As Wike, Umahi, Others Conclude Documentation, Set For Swearing-in

There is tight security at the Presidential Villa ahead of the swearing-in of ministers-designate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, August 21.

The ministers-designate carried out their documentation between Saturday and Sunday at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in Abuja.

“The security there has been beefed up, and according to the arrangement on the ground, no car, either from the ministers-designate, their guests, or any other person, would be allowed into the Villa tomorrow. Visitors and ministers-designate might be subjected to biometric capturing,” a source told The PUNCH.

It was gathered that the ministers-designate were also given three invitation cards for their guests.

In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Information, OSGF, Willie Bassey, said the documentation was seamless.

He said, “The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has successfully completed the documentation process for all ministers-designate this evening.

“The documentation commences on Saturday at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The exercise witnessed a large turnout of ministers-designate who completed the process yesterday.

“Today, the remaining ministers-designate concluded the exercise.

“In all, the 45 ministers-designate successfully completed the documentation process and also picked up three invitation cards for their guests.

“Adequate transportation arrangements have been concluded to convey ministers-designate and their three guests to the venue of the ceremony at the State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, Abuja.”

He asked Permanent Secretaries to meet their respective ministers after the swearing-in ceremony at the Office of the Secretary to the Government for further interaction with them.

He said while accredited journalists covering Aso Villa have automatic entry to the venue, “all others would have to join through a link that would be provided for clean feeds.”