*Lists plethora of achievements by the APC govt in just two years
By Chesa Chesa
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has explained that President Bola Tinubu is collaborating with States and local governments to provide a more secure Nigeria.
In a message to mark the second anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration, Idris debunked critics who say the President has left security to worsen in the country.
This was as the Minister reeled out the achievements of the administration geared towards breaking the stranglehold of dysfunction on Nigeria and to replace this with systems that stand out for their efficiency and
productivity.
He noted that in just two years of the administration, the government has been able to put his vision into concrete projects that inspire and renew collective hope.
According to him: “That vision for a new Nigeria is playing out as a re-enactment of his 1999 vision for a new Lagos, and I think that it is very important, in understanding this consequential presidency, to rewind a bit and locate its roots in an equally consequential governorship.
Citing Tinubu’s achievements as state governor on Lagos to buttress his points, the Minister stated that Bola Tinubu “inherited a megacity in dire need of taming, ridden with poor infrastructure, urban filth, and buffeted by an encroaching ocean.
“He set about imposing a sense of order and vision on this state of aff airs, creating an enduring subnational standard for public sector and governance reform in Nigeria.
“New institutions were created, talent was hired, and bold ideas were very much welcome. No aspect of governance was left behind – judiciary, land use,
mass transit, waste management, revenue collection, security — and a standout dedication to true federalism”.
He listed what he described as “revolutionizing of revenue collection”, urban renewal, physical infrastructural development, which he noted has transformed Lekki to the fastest growing city in Africa, adding that President Tinubu came to offi ce fully aware of the immense and unique complexities of the country he’d been elected to run, but is determined to repeat his Lagos magic.
“As with the stint in Lagos, his first order of duty in the Presidential Villa was to tame seemingly intractable monsters. In this case, the twin monsters of petrol and forex subsidies. Not because the concept of subsidies is a terrible one, no, but instead because
these two subsidies stand out uniquely for how especially inhibiting and damaging they have been for our national aspiration to be a continental and global model of economic growth, prosperity and effi ciency.
“President Tinubu alluded to this in his speech during the recent visit to Anambra State, saying: “Like we
tamed the Atlantic in Lagos, many of these monsters have been tackled: petroleum and forex subsidies have been tamed; macroeconomic stability has
returned within predictable bounds; tax reforms are on the way, etc. These reforms are di fficult, yes, but
inevitable.”
He boasted that the administration is engaged in “deployment of a new order to replace the old. First the dismantling of dysfunction, and then the laying of new foundations of growth, of investment and jobs,
of economic stability and attractiveness”.
Listing further achievements , the minister pointed at the emergence of a brand new tax regime, a new
omnibus infrastructure program, a new landscape of social welfare schemes, including presidential grants and loans scheme, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the
presidential CNG initiative, the Consumer Credit Corporation, stressing that “the common thread here is that these initiatives all have the ordinary people of Nigeria at their very heart: artisans, small businesses, students, transporters,
civil servants, everyday people building their lives honestly and diligently”.
He also said the policy reforms and fi scal stability are paying off , and investors already announced over fi ve billion dollars in Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) for landmark new deepwater projects in the country.
In the health sector, Idris said there are no fewer than 22 new large-scale private sector pharmaceutical manufacturing projects valued at over $5.5 billion, across the country, as well as an infl ow of multi-billion-dollar investment funding from multilateral partners like Afreximbank and the European Investment Bank.
He eulogized the new Electricity Act, pointing out that is aims “to empower subnational governments and the private sector to wholeheartedly get involved in power generation, transmission and distribution”.
he also said the approval of new Development Commissions, was in the spirit of equitable and decentralized national development.
“The seed planting continues, to guarantee tomorrow’s forests for coming generations.
“In the area of security, more needs to be done, by the Federal Government working very closely with States and Local Governments,” he stressed.
