Nigeria’s new government to be sworn in after five-month wait

Nigeria’s new government is to be sworn in following a five-month wait for a cabinet to be installed in Africa’s most populous country.

A total of 36 ministers, named by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and approved by the parliament, are scheduled to take their oaths of office on Wednesday.

This will bring to an end 166 days in which Buhari has effectively been in sole charge of Africa’s leading economy and number-one oil producer.

The new administration comprises technocrats and political figures from each of Nigeria’s 36 states.

Since taking the helm on May 29, Buhari has been primarily focused on the fight against Takfiri Boko Haram militants. The 72-year-old former military ruler has given the army until the end of the year to suppress the militants, who have killed at least 17,000 people and made over 2.5 million homeless since 2009.