The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the Bola Tinubu administration took difficult decisions at the beginning of its tenure despite their political implications.
Idris said the government chose to address longstanding economic and structural distortions rather than defer them, acknowledging that the measures imposed significant costs on Nigerians.
He spoke on Thursday, September 24, during a ministerial briefing in Abuja ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
According to Idris, the administration inherited significant structural and physical challenges when it assumed office and opted to tackle them through reforms.
“About three years ago, President Bola Tinubu assumed office amid some very significant and structural challenges, and physical challenges.
“His administration chose to confront the long-standing distortions rather than postpone them and those decisions where indeed very difficult and where not politically convenient. And because of those decisions, Nigerians have bored some real costs.
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“Today, however, Nigeria is moving from the difficult work of reforms and stabilisation towards a new phase of growth and shared prosperity.”
The minister pointed to recent economic indicators as evidence of what he described as progress following the government’s reforms.
“Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.43 percent as against the preceding year which was 4.23 percent, our foreign reserve as risen, our domestic refining capacity has expanded, investment and productive activity are given momentum.
“Only yesterday, we heard from the governor of the Central Bank that for the first time in 18 years, the foreign reserve has crossed the $55 billion mark.”
Idris said the administration’s reform programme was now moving beyond the initial phase of difficult adjustments and stabilisation towards a period focused on economic growth and shared prosperity.
His comments came as the Federal Government began activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, with ministers highlighting developments and policies under the Tinubu administration.