The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has defended the Federal Government’s fuel price relief measures, insisting that the initiative is not a return to petrol subsidy but an effort to ease the burden of rising energy costs on Nigerians. Idris said the administration of President Bola Tinubu…...
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has defended the Federal Government’s fuel price relief measures, insisting that the initiative is not a return to petrol subsidy but an effort to ease the burden of rising energy costs on Nigerians.
Idris said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to economic reforms aimed at improving living conditions, adding that the gains of the ongoing recovery must translate into tangible benefits for households.
The minister spoke on Monday during an interactive media engagement with senior editors and broadcast anchors in Abuja, where he addressed concerns over petrol prices, labour relations, food security, poverty, infrastructure, national security and press freedom, as contained in a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Monday, October 12.
On the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s 30-day petrol discount initiative, Idris explained that the measure was designed to provide temporary relief by reducing some of the company’s profits rather than reintroducing government-funded fuel subsidies.
“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.
While acknowledging the financial pressures facing households, the minister cited declining inflation, stronger external reserves and increased non-oil export earnings as indicators of progress under the government’s economic reforms.
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He, however, said the administration needed to ensure that the improvements in key economic indicators were more widely felt by Nigerians.
“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 the rising cost of living and outstanding labour issues, the minister expressed confidence that the Federal Government and organised labour would resolve their differences 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 concerns over local government financial autonomy, Idris reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to implementing the arrangement, saying consultations with relevant stakeholders were ongoing to address practical challenges.
The minister also highlighted government efforts to boost domestic agricultural production and strengthen strategic food reserves as part of measures to improve food security and affordability.
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He urged traders to avoid hoarding and practices that create artificial scarcity, stressing that government interventions alone would not be sufficient without cooperation from other stakeholders.
“Government can create these enablers for Nigerians to have succour, but it is ultimately up to Nigerians to also support what government is doing,” he said.
On infrastructure, Idris defended ongoing Federal Government road projects, saying they were intended to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, support agriculture and create economic opportunities rather than serve electoral purposes.
“Nobody is fixing road just because there is election. We are fixing road so that Nigerians can have access on these roads, so that it can connect cities, create these economic corridors for businesses to thrive,” the minister said.
On security, he disclosed that the military’s operational structure had expanded from eight to 12 divisions, alongside improved support for security personnel.
Although he acknowledged that major security challenges remained, Idris said the government was committed to strengthening the country’s security architecture and protecting lives and property.
The minister also addressed concerns about press freedom and reports of arrests involving citizens expressing political views, saying he was unaware of any directive by President Tinubu authorising the repression of the media.
He pledged to seek clarification on specific incidents raised by journalists during the engagement.
Idris, however, urged media organisations to maintain professional standards, verify information and avoid misleading or sensational headlines, arguing 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.
The minister commended the participating media organisations for their contributions and expressed willingness to sustain the interactive sessions, potentially on a fortnightly basis.
According to him, regular engagements would improve communication between the Federal Government and the media, provide opportunities to clarify government policies and address emerging national issues.