66th Independence: Information Minister Says Nigeria Moving From Reforms To Growth, Shared Prosperity

"The reforms introduced by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been difficult, but are beginning to yield improvements in the nation’s economic outlook." Idris

.... Says "the priority of the next phase is to translate the emerging gains into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians through increased employment, higher incomes, greater access to education and credit, reduced costs and expanded economic opportunities."

Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, yesterday said Nigeria was moving beyond economic reforms and stabilisation into a phase of growth, production and shared prosperity.

Idris, who spoke at a World Press Conference in Abuja to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, said the reforms introduced by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been difficult, but were beginning to yield improvements in the nation’s economic outlook.

According to him, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth is strengthening, the country’s external position has improved, domestic refining capacity has expanded, while investment and productive activities are gaining momentum.

The minister, however, said the priority of the next phase was to translate the emerging gains into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians through increased employment, higher incomes, greater access to education and credit, reduced costs and expanded economic opportunities.

He said the Renewed Hope Agenda was pursuing these objectives through investments in infrastructure, agriculture, education, consumer credit, digital skills, energy and enterprise.

Idris listed student loans, consumer credit and major highway projects among initiatives designed to widen access to education and economic opportunities, adding that reforms in agriculture, livestock, solid minerals, oil and gas were increasingly being targeted at boosting production and local value addition.

He said: “Nigeria must increasingly produce what it consumes, process what it extracts, and create opportunities from its abundant human and natural resources.”

On security and national cohesion, the minister said economic progress could not be sustained without security, justice and unity, stressing that the government was strengthening the country’s security architecture while insisting that state authority must be exercised within the law.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66 years of independence, Idris said the anniversary should not merely be a commemoration of October 1, 1960, but an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the country’s journey and renew their commitment to building a more prosperous, secure and united nation.

He recalled that Nigerians of diverse ethnic, religious and regional backgrounds embraced at independence the conviction that their future would be greater together than apart.

According to him, although that conviction had been tested repeatedly, the country had endured through the resilience of its people and their shared belief in a common destiny.

The minister also called for greater responsibility among government, the media and citizens in the nation-building process.

He said government must communicate truthfully and remain accountable, while the media must uphold accuracy, fairness, balance and verification.

Citizens, he added, must also have access to reliable information to enable them make informed democratic choices.

Idris acknowledged that despite the progress recorded, Nigeria still faced significant challenges and had much work ahead.

He said the collective responsibility of Nigerians was to ensure that the next generation inherited a country that was “more prosperous, more secure, more united and more confident” than the one inherited by the present generation.

The minister spoke at the event hosted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, as part of activities marking the 66th Independence Anniversary.