The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, has declared 2025 as a pivotal year of consolidation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, aimed at building upon the significant achievements recorded in the first 19 months of governance.

During a Ministerial Press Briefing held in Abuja, Minister Idris emphasized the importance of reflecting on these accomplishments as the administration approaches its mid-term.

He stated, “This inaugural briefing for 2025 serves as a reminder of our progress and the context in which these gains are being realized.”

The Minister outlined key areas of achievement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, including:

1. Fiscal, Macroeconomic, and Legislative Reforms: • Fuel Subsidy Removal: This strategic move has plugged financial leakages amounting to hundreds of billions of Naira annually.
2. • Foreign Exchange Transparency and Stability: The introduction of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) has led to unprecedented stability in the FX market, clearing billions of dollars in backlogs and boosting foreign investment. The Naira recently reached an eight-month high in the official market.
3. • Oil and Gas Reforms: In 2024, Nigeria became the most attractive destination for oil and gas investments in Africa, securing over $5 billion in Final Investment Decisions (FIDs).
4. • Electricity Act: The 2024 Electricity Act provides a framework for state governments to establish regulated electricity markets, following a constitutional amendment.
5. • Local Government Autonomy: A landmark Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 empowered local governments with unprecedented financial autonomy, with an Inter-Ministerial Committee established to ensure compliance.

Targeted Interventions:

• Students Loan Fund: Over 169,000 students have benefited from NELFUND, receiving N32.8 billion for school fees and upkeep.
• Regional Development: New Development Commissions have been established for the North-Central, South-East, and North-West regions, alongside the creation of a Federal University of Environmental Technology.
• Healthcare Initiatives: The Federal Executive Council recently approved $1.07 billion from the World Bank for health programs, including targeted subsidies for cancer patients.
• Passport Reforms: A backlog of over 200,000 international passports was cleared within three weeks in 2024.
• Compressed Natural Gas: An investment of over $450 million has been made to develop Nigeria’s CNG value chain.

Infrastructure Development:

Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has become a hub of construction activity. Recent approvals from the Federal Executive Council include over 2.5 trillion Naira for various road projects, including:

•   N1.334 trillion for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
•   N470.9 billion for access roads to the Second Niger Bridge.
•   N195 billion for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction.

4. Defence and Security:

In 2024, security forces neutralized over 8,000 terrorists and bandits, rescued 8,000 kidnap victims, and established a Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell in collaboration with the UK’s National Crime Agency.

5. Food Security:

The establishment of a Ministry of Livestock Development aims to tap into a multi-billion-dollar agricultural opportunity, contributing to significant drops in grain prices.

2025 Budget Overview:

On December 18, 2024, President Tinubu presented a proposed budget of N49.7 trillion, later increased to N54.2 trillion due to additional revenue projections. The budget, termed the “Budget of Restoration,” prioritizes:

•   Security: N4.91 trillion
•   Infrastructure: N4.06 trillion
•   Education: N3.52 trillion
•   Health: N2.48 trillion

Minister Idris concluded by asserting that the bold initiatives of President Tinubu are fostering greater fiscal capacity, a reformed tax regime, and improved living standards for Nigerians through various support programs.

“We are witnessing a transformative era, where hope is being renewed for all Nigerians, regardless of age or gender, across the nation,” he added

President Bola Tinubu has re-designated the positions of two recently appointed officials in the State House media and communications team to enhance efficiency within the government’s communication machinery.

The restructuring is as follows:

1. Mr. Sunday Dare – hitherto Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation is now Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications.

2. Mr. Daniel Bwala – announced last week as Special Adviser, Media and Public  Communication, is now special adviser Policy Communication.

These appointments, along with the existing role of Special Adviser, Information and Strategy , underscore that there is no single individual spokesperson for the Presidency.

Instead, all the three Special Advisers will collectively serve as spokespersons for the government.

This approach aims to ensure effective and consistent communication of government policies, decisions, and engagements.

Signed: Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President, (Information and Strategy)

More accolades for the Minister of State for Defence H.E Dr Muhammed Bello Matawalle, MoN, for his commitment and dedication to his duties and the

latest is the remarks of goodwill of the minister made by the newly elected National Speaker of the leading Youth’s body in Nigeria, the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), Comrade Famuyibo Oluwasegun, during his acceptance speech at the national election held at Agura Hotels, Abuja weekend.

Comrade Oluwasegun, who hails from Ekiti State, described the Minister as a Youths role model who has demonstrated rare courage in fighting bandits and terrorists to their standstill in North West and other parts of the country and above all his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

The National Youth Speaker noted further that “After God Almighty who made his emergence possible, the Minister of State Defence and former Governor of Zamfara state, Dr. Bello Matawalle was a prominent factor to his new attained height.

“My mentor, His Excellency Dr. Matawalle extended an unalloyed hand of leadership, direction and support to me which were instrumental to making my victory a reality”, Famuyibo stated.

The YAN Speaker-elect thanked the YAN Board of Trustees, Convention Planning Committee and the entire YAN delegates for finding him worthy to lead the 4th Assembly of Nigerian Youths.

Also lending his voice, the Acting BoT Chairman of YAN, Hon. Gt. C Samuel advised the newly elected leaders of YAN to be good Ambassadors of Nigerian Youths and Nigeria at all times. He encouraged them to bring out the best of their thinking caps while planning for a befitting inauguration of the 4th Assembly as elected.

Other elected new national leadership of the 4th Assembly of Youth Assembly of Nigeria, included Umar Bala Babayaro of Kaduna state emerged the Deputy National Speaker, Sadiq Abubakar of Borno state as Majority Leader, Ezeanikwe Charles as Deputy Majority Leader, Raymond Sylvanus of Cross Rivers state as National Chief Whip, Jennifer Ornguga of Benue state as National Minority Leader and Jude Chinonso as Diaspora Ambassador.