President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that the removal of fuel subsidy on the day of his inauguration was a painful but necessary decision to save Nigeria’s economy from fiscal collapse.
Speaking through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the quarterly meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum with Information Commissioners from APC-controlled states in Minna, the President urged officials to take the message of economic reforms to the grassroots.
Idirs noted that the bold decision to remove fuel subsidy was not only about plugging financial leakages but about redirecting savings into infrastructure and national development.
“One of the boldest and most consequential decisions of this administration, which is the removal of the fuel subsidy, was a painful but necessary reform. Beyond saving the economy from fiscal collapse, this decision has significantly blocked areas of leakage and waste in our economy,” he said.
He added that the funds saved are being channelled into major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Calabar-Abuja Super Highway, Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway, and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway.
Idris urged APC Information Commissioners to “arm themselves with facts, data, and stories” to communicate government reforms effectively and counter misinformation.
“You must go back home with renewed energy, armed with facts, stories, and strategies to effectively mobilise your people to take full advantage of the promise of Renewed Hope,” he said.
The minister described the meeting as crucial in ensuring that citizens across Nigeria not only hear about government programmes but also understand how to access and benefit from them.
He reminded the gathering that the Renewed Hope Agenda was already being implemented across federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with discipline, prudence, and a deep commitment to the welfare of Nigerians.
“This forum reflects a recognition of our shared responsibility to effectively communicate the goals, achievements and promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda to every citizen in every community across the country,” Idris said.
Representing Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Gawu, commended the APC governors for their unity and progress-driven leadership.
“Here in Niger State, we are building the New Niger, a development vision driven by bold reforms in agriculture, digitisation, urban renewal, and youth empowerment,” he said.
Niger State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Binta Mamman, described the meeting’s theme, “Strategic Communication and Policy Alignment,” as timely.
She stressed the importance of communication in promoting development, accountability, and public mobilisation, especially under the visionary leadership of Governor Bago.
Mamman said, “Our task as information managers is not only to publicise the achievements of our respective governments but also to counter misinformation, shape constructive public discourses, align state narratives with our collective progressive ideals for national development and security.”