The Nigerian government has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is being controlled by a cabal, asserting that the president makes his decisions independently and solely in the interest of the nation.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this clarification on Thursday while addressing the APC National Summit themed "Renewed Hope Agenda: The Journey So Far" in Abuja.
"You need to study the President very well. You can have your voice; you can say what you want to say; he will listen to you, but his decision is ultimately his own. I think it's important for us to recognize that," Idris stated.
The minister described the Renewed Hope Agenda as a bold, people-first blueprint transforming Nigeria by turning obstacles into opportunities. He emphasized that the agenda aims to positively impact Nigerians' lives through decisions designed to unleash the country's full potential.
Bold Economic Reforms
Idris highlighted that President Tinubu inherited a nation at a crossroads and immediately implemented significant reforms, including the removal of petrol and foreign exchange subsidies, which he described as "among the biggest impediments to Nigeria's progress, costing billions of dollars in losses and waste annually."
"True leadership involves the ability to make decisions that might be tough in the short term but are guaranteed to deliver lasting returns," the minister noted.
Infrastructure Development
According to Idris, the outcomes of the President's reforms are now evident across all sectors through large-scale infrastructure projects, social investment programmes, and revamping of the nation's mining and petroleum sectors.
He highlighted four signature highway projects: the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Calabar-Abuja Superhighway, and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Highway, totaling more than 2,600 km and linking communities and economies across the country.
The minister also mentioned the Kano-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway as a key component of the Lagos-Kano railway modernization plan being prioritized under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Digital Economy and Education
In the digital sector, Idris revealed that the Federal Government is deploying 90,000 km of fiber optic cable nationwide to bridge Nigeria's digital divide and support smart governance, digital investments, and e-services in education and healthcare.
He also noted that about 300,000 Nigerian students are now benefitting from the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while workers are accessing the new Consumer Credit Scheme to purchase essential goods.
Security and Agriculture
On security, the minister stated that the military has neutralized and arrested thousands of hostile elements and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages. He added that more than 25 new aircraft have been acquired, and the Navy has taken delivery of four new vessels.
Idris praised the President for establishing the Ministry of Livestock Development and Regional Development Commissions across the six geo-political zones to modernize agriculture and ensure inclusive development.
The minister concluded by highlighting the recent enactment of the Renewed Hope Nigeria First policy, which mandates all federal ministries, departments, and agencies to prioritize Nigerian goods, services, and expertise when spending public funds, describing it as "historically unprecedented" and aimed at accelerating industrialization through local production.
