UPDATE 2-Nigerian president restructures key ministries

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By Felix Onuah

ABUJA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua made sweeping changes to the country's ministries on Wednesday in an apparent move to consolidate power and shake off the influence of his predecessor Olusegun Obasanjo.

The cabinet in Africa's top oil producer approved the creation of a new ministry for the Niger Delta, where militants are waging a campaign of violence against the oil industry, and the separation of the Energy Ministry into petroleum and power.

"As part of efforts to fast-track and effectively coordinate the implementation of the seven-point agenda of his administration, (Yar'Adua) has approved the rationalisation and restructuring of federal ministries," presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said in a statement.

The changes included the reintroduction of the Ministry for Police Affairs and the separation of some ministries merged by the last administration, such as transport and aviation.

The presidency statement said the aim was to "streamline and strengthen" governance in Africa's most populous nation. The changes would leave the country with 42 ministers and 28 ministries, it said.

Yar'Adua, who took office 16 months ago, had long been expected to restructure government.

Senior Nigerian officials had been suggesting for months that a shake-up was imminent, while Yar'Adua himself hinted during a speech in May to mark his first year in office that he would change the cabinet's "structure and personnel".