By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, insisting that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.)’s 30-day petrol discount initiative is not a return to fuel subsidy.
Idris spoke on Monday in Abuja during an interactive media engagement with senior editors and broadcast anchors, where he addressed concerns about rising petrol prices, the cost of living, labour relations, food security, infrastructure, national security and press freedom.
He explained that the petrol discount was designed to provide temporary relief to Nigerians amid rising international energy costs, noting that the NNPC decided to forgo part of its profits to cushion the impact on consumers.
According to him, the government remains committed to improving living conditions while sustaining the country’s economic recovery.
“Our task now is to ensure that this clear macroeconomic recovery is felt even more widely in the lives and households of Nigerians,” he said.
The minister cited declining inflation, stronger external reserves and increased non-oil export earnings as indicators of economic progress, but acknowledged the need to ensure that the benefits translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
On labour relations and the rising cost of living, Idris expressed confidence that the Federal Government and organized labour would resolve outstanding issues through dialogue. He also recalled President Bola Tinubu’s position that minimum wage arrangements could be reviewed every three years instead of every five years.
Regarding local government financial autonomy, the minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to its implementation, noting that consultations with relevant stakeholders were ongoing to address practical challenges.
On food security, he highlighted government efforts to boost domestic agricultural production and strengthen strategic food reserves, while urging traders to avoid hoarding and practices that create artificial scarcity.
Idris stressed that making food affordable required collective responsibility, with Nigerians supporting government initiatives to improve access to essential commodities.
He also defended ongoing federal road projects, saying they were intended to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, support agriculture and open up economic corridors for businesses rather than serve electoral interests.
“Nobody is fixing roads just because there is an election. We are fixing roads so that Nigerians can have access on these roads, so that it can connect cities, create these economic corridors for businesses to thrive,” he said.
On security, the minister highlighted the expansion of military operational structures from eight to 12 divisions, alongside improved support for security personnel.
While acknowledging persistent security challenges, he reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s security architecture and protecting lives and property.
Addressing concerns about press freedom and reports of arrests involving citizens expressing political views, Idris said he was unaware of any directive by President Tinubu authorizing media repression. He, however, promised to seek clarification on specific incidents raised during the engagement.
The minister urged media organizations to uphold professional standards, verify information and avoid misleading or sensational headlines, stressing that press freedom must be accompanied by responsibility.
“Press freedom is not just one thing that is just hanging in the air. It is also having something attached to it, and that is the responsibility of those who are exercising it,” he said.
Idris commended the participating media organizations and pledged to sustain the interactive engagements, potentially on a fortnightly basis, to strengthen communication between the government and the media and provide opportunities to clarify policies and address emerging national issues.
