The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said, President Tinubu is implementing a series of transformative policies and reforms designed to address the missteps of the past and set Nigeria to emerge as a formidable economic superpower in the near future.
Idris stated this on Thursday at a world press conference to unveil the activities lined up for the 64th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria in Abuja.
He said, “Under the visionary leadership of President Tinubu, we have initiated transformative policies and reforms aimed at correcting the missteps of the past and repositioning Nigeria as an economic superpower in the near future. Despite global economic headwinds and the transitional pains accompanying some of the reforms, the President has remained focused in his efforts towards reviving our economy and returning the country to the path of prosperity and sustainable growth.”
He stated that, in a groundbreaking effort to transform rural socio-economic development in Nigeria, President Tinubu successfully sought and obtained a landmark Supreme Court judgment granting autonomy to local governments.
He noted that the singular decision ensures that elected Local Government Administrations now have direct fiscal control, which will intimately enhance grassroots governance and development, while promoting greater effectiveness and accountability in local governance.
“In addition, a lot of work is going towards ensuring macroeconomic stability, stabilizing the foreign exchange regime, reforming the tax system to make it more efficient, and less burdensome on Nigerians, repositioning our oil and gas sector to attract new investment, and prioritizing the diversification and expansion of government revenues,” he stated.
The Minister added that the President is gradually guiding Nigeria into a unique energy transition phase through the launch of the presidential initiative to move the country from fossil fuels to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a fuel for vehicles and machinery.
He acknowledged that the ongoing rollout of CNG and associated infrastructure is reducing transportation costs for Nigerians by up to 60 percent, creating jobs, and attracting tens of millions of dollars in local and foreign investment.
“In multiple ways the President is focused on putting more money in the pockets of the Nigerian people, and creating avenues for sustainable prosperity,” he said.
The Minister, who said that the 64th independence anniversary is a time of reflection, celebration, and renewed hope, stressed that so far Nigeria has demonstrated resilience, strength, capacity, and an unyielding spirit in the face of numerous and daunting challenges.
Idris said since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has evolved from a nation of hope and potential into a leading force on the African continent and a respected voice in the global community and that despite numerous trials, the nation always emerges stronger through the citizens’ shared unwavering vision of a united and prosperous country.
The Minister, however, commended Nigerians for their patience and resilience in this very difficult period in the evolution of the nation’s economy, noting that the journey has been tough but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
He said with the recent ratification of the National Values Charter by the Federal Executive Council, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation would now commence the implementation of the Charter in line with the President’s commitment to fostering moral, ethical, and cultural reawakening.
“The charter will bolster the conviction that the things that unite—our sense of nationhood, our obligations to our country, and its obligations to us—will always be stronger and deeper than what may wish to divide us,” he said.
On his part, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, who unveiled the programmes for the 64th Independence Anniversary on the occasion, said the President has instructed that the ceremony be marked at low key.
On the issue of food scarcity, the SGF, said Nigeria has no reason to import food but for the mean time, the government has made provisions for food importation to cushion the effect current food scarcity in the country, while distribution of farm imputs is ongoing across the nation.
In his own remarks, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said steps are being taken to stabilise the economy despite the initial challenges being faced as a result of the reformative policies introduced by the administration.
For the removal of the fuel subsidy, he said that the administration has implemented major reforms that will ensure sale of crude oil to local refineries in naira. This is is in addition to distribution of palliatives to over 20 million people and 5 million households.
On his part, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu said Nigeria was not alone in the current economic meltdown as it cuts across the globe.
He said, “Some of the challenges we face. are not peculiar to us, while population has expanded over the years but the economy has remained stagnant.
” The renewed Hope Agenda is about confronting the realty with us, while not squandering the opportunity to put the economy on the the path.of growth.”
Speaking on the infrastructure provision, the Minister of Works Sen Dave Umahi said efforts are being taken to make roads motorable across the nation with improved road designs and Standards.
“We have improved on road design, we are designing roads based on top soil and water level. We have programmes that allow private sector to participate. Sixty three roads are being constructed by private sector so that they can toll them, we have started with some.major roads across the nation.
“We inherited 2600 projects and 13trn debt. we do not intend to start new projects, the coastal roads will decongest Apapa Warf, 339 bridges were cut out when we came on board and about N300 billion was budged for it in 2024 budget, 85% of it is now completed.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman said a new curriculum has been designed for Nigerian schools and is ready for implementation. The curriculum, be said will enable Nigerian students acquire technical skills and become self sustaining after school.
“The idea is for the Nigerian students to remain in school and be productive after completion of studies.”
On impending ASUU strike, he said that government is already engaging the Union so that the education will have stability the President desired.”
In his own contribution, the Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said the incessant flooring in the country was caused by change in the climate.
And to tackle the impact, he stated that government has constituted technical committee to assess all dams in the country and to build new ones to contain flooring along River Basin axis.
He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the new policies of government to set. the economy on the oath of growth.
The event which was attended by other government functionaries including Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo and presidential aides.
Meanwhile, the SGF announced that the government will mark the 64th Independent anniversary on Friday with Jumat prayer and Inter-denomination prayer at Christian Ecumenical Centre on Sunday and Presidential address on Tuesday.