Mohamed Nihad, previously suspended as Minister of State for Tourism, has been appointed as the new Minister of State for Finance.

The President’s Office Spokesperson, Heena Waleed, confirmed Nihad’s appointment on Thursday.

Nihad was suspended from his tourism role on December 24, following remarks he made during a meeting organised by the PNC. In his speech, he accused the opposition party, MDP, of planning a terrorist attack to disrupt the Maldives’ tourism sector, which is central to the country's economy. He claimed the alleged attack aimed to sabotage efforts to reach two million tourist arrivals.

Despite the controversy, Nihad has now taken on his new role within the Ministry of Finance.