The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration has freed resources for national development.
The minister said this during the “Tinubu Administration Mid-Term Sensitisation Campaign” in Minna on Wednesday.
Idris, represented by Dr Asabe Sule-Garba, Head of Federal Information Resource Centre in Minna, explained that the removal of fuel subsidy allowed the administration to redirect funds to critical projects, social services and economic stability initiatives.
StarReporters reports that the campaign highlighted the significant progress made in various sectors of the economy since the subsidy removal in May 2023.
The minister said the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration were aimed at creating a more stable, fair and prosperous Nigeria.
“These reforms are built on the foundation of the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at creating a more stable, fair and prosperous Nigeria. These tough but necessary decisions have freed up national resources for infrastructure, education, healthcare and job creation,” he said.
Idris added that the essence of the campaign was to emphasise the importance of citizens’ engagement in government policies and programmes.
He said citizens could only hold leaders accountable when they remained informed about government policies and initiatives.
He also reiterated the need to ensure peace and prosperity in the North Central region, urging citizens to spread government policies and programmes to families, neighbours and communities.
Mr Eyitayo Aluko, Federal Controller of Works in Niger, said the Federal Ministry of Works had carried out landmark achievements in the state, including the construction of Minna-Zungeru-Tegina road, Tegina-Kontagora road, and the dualisation of the Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa road.
Aluko, represented by Mr Felix Thomas, Assistant Chief Engineer in the ministry in Niger, said the projects were aimed at improving infrastructure and facilitating the movement of goods and services from the North to the South.
Also, Malam Suleiman Ladan, State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the ministry had built irrigation facilities, trade structures, and carried out research interventions, among other projects, in Niger.
Ladan added that the initiatives were aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and creating jobs for Nigerians, noting that the ministry also distributed emergency relief materials to IDP camps and farmers in the state.
“We distributed 6,000 bags of rice in Niger State. Out of the 6,000 bags of rice, 1,200 bags went to federal civil servants while 4,800 bags were for the state civil servants and private sector workers,” he said.
Participants at the sensitisation campaign included market women, artisans, NGOs and people living with disabilities.
(NAN)