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…Says NNPCL fully involved
Following the backlash that greeted the 30-day price reduction of petrol across the outlets of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), the federal government Monday gave some insights into how the decision was arrived at, saying it was done mainly by the NNPCL firstly as part of the nation’s 66th independence anniversary.
The government also clarified that this did not in any way mean a reversal of its policy on fuel subsidy removal, but rather designed to provide temporary relief to Nigerians amid rising international energy costs.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris made the clarification in Abuja during an interactive media engagement with senior editors and broadcast anchors, where he defended the government’s economic reforms and outlined measures aimed at cushioning the effects of rising living costs.
The minister assured Nigerians that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to improving living conditions, sustaining economic recovery and ensuring that the benefits of ongoing reforms reached households across the country.
Explaining the rationale behind the NNPC initiative, Idris said the national oil company had opted to forgo part of its profits to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices on consumers.
“The NNPC has looked at it and said, ‘Okay, we are making this much profit. Why can’t we forgo some of the profit that we are making, so that Nigerians will have some form of cushioning?’” he said.
The minister acknowledged the economic pressures facing households, stressing that the government’s reform agenda must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
He cited declining inflation, stronger external reserves and increased non-oil export earnings as indicators of economic progress, while acknowledging the need to ensure that the gains were more widely felt by citizens.
“Our task now is to ensure that this clear macroeconomic recovery is felt even more widely in the lives and households of Nigerians,” Idris stated.
On labour relations and the rising cost of living, the minister expressed optimism that the federal government and organised labour would resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.
He also recalled President Tinubu’s position that minimum wage arrangements could be reviewed every three years instead of every five years.
Addressing the local government financial autonomy, Idris reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to its implementation, explaining that consultations with relevant stakeholders were ongoing to address practical challenges and ensure the system becomes effectively operational.
On food security, the minister highlighted government efforts to boost domestic agricultural production and strengthen strategic food reserves to improve food availability and affordability.
He also urged traders to refrain from hoarding food items or engaging in practices that create artificial scarcity, stressing that cooperation between the government and the private sector was necessary to ease the burden on consumers.
“Government can create these enablers for Nigerians to have succour, but it is ultimately up to Nigerians to also support what the government is doing,” he said.
Idris also defended ongoing federal government road projects, arguing that they were intended to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, support agricultural production and create economic corridors for businesses.
He dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the projects were driven by electoral considerations, saying infrastructure development was necessary to connect cities and expand economic opportunities.
“Nobody is fixing road just because there is 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 national security, the minister highlighted the expansion of military operational structures from eight to 12 divisions, alongside improved support for security personnel.
While acknowledging that significant security challenges remained, he reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s security architecture and protecting lives and property.
Responding to concerns about press freedom and reports of arrests involving citizens expressing political views, Idris said he was not aware of any directive from President Tinubu authorising the repression of the media.
He, however, pledged to seek clarification on specific incidents raised during the engagement.
The minister also urged media organisations to uphold professional standards, verify information and avoid misleading or sensational headlines, maintaining 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 organisations for their engagement and expressed willingness to sustain the interactive sessions, potentially on a fortnightly basis.
He said regular engagements would strengthen communication between the federal government and the media, provide opportunities to clarify government policies and enable timely responses to emerging national issues.
…Nigeria on course – Minister
Continuing, the minister said, “Nigeria is moving forward with renewed confidence. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have taken bold decisions to address longstanding structural weaknesses, restore stability and lay a stronger foundation for sustained growth. These decisions are producing measurable results, and we are increasingly seeing the transition from economic reform to economic opportunity.
“We recognise that many households continue to face cost-of-living pressures. That is precisely why the President remains focused not only on stabilising the economy, but also on making the benefits of recovery visible in the daily lives of our people.
“Our commitment is to ensure that stronger economic indicators translate into more jobs, more productive businesses, more affordable essential services and greater purchasing power for Nigerian families.
“The progress is substantial, and the direction is clear. The reforms are strengthening our economic fundamentals, rebuilding confidence and creating the conditions for broader prosperity. We are determined to consolidate these gains and accelerate their impact across the country. The macroeconomic numbers have turned the corner, and I would ask that we always look at what they mean beyond the headlines.
“The economy is on course to grow by more than 4 per cent in 2026. Nigeria’s current account surplus was US$12.0 billion in the first half of 2026, up from US$8.6 billion in the first half of 2025. Inflation has fallen from about 27 per cent in January 2025 to around 15 per cent today, an encouraging improvement in the outlook for household budgets. Our ultimate target remains single-digit inflation.”
…Onanuga speaks
Also speaking at the parley, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, called on media professionals to be objective and ethical in the reportage of events.
The presidential spokesman cited instances where a newspaper reported that the fuel price was hitting N1, 900, only to discover in the body of the story that it was diesel.
He also referenced a television channel which reported long queues at CNG centres, but reported that they were queuing for fuel, urging the mainstream media not to join those who engaged in junk journalism.
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