The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has insisted that every Nigerian is benefiting from President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, citing infrastructure development, improved security, student loans and growing international confidence in the country.
Idris made the assertion on Tuesday in Abuja during a media presentation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto for the 2027 presidential election, titled From Reforms to Prosperity.
He said the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration were laying the foundation for national prosperity, adding that the next four years would focus on ensuring more Nigerians experience their benefits.
According to the minister, the gains of government policies are not restricted to APC members, wealthy Nigerians or any particular social class.
Idris Explains How Nigerians Are Benefiting
Addressing concerns over who benefits from the government’s economic reforms, Idris cited infrastructure projects, particularly the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kano road.
He argued that public infrastructure serves everyone, regardless of political affiliation or economic status.
“When the road between Abuja to Kano is being put together, I’m not aware that anybody needs to show his ID card that he needs to belong to the APC or he is a rich man or he belongs to a particular class before he plies it,” he said.
The minister also pointed to improvements in security, particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, which he said had changed the experience of motorists travelling between the two cities.
He recalled that travellers previously had to make enquiries about the presence of bandits and kidnappers before embarking on journeys along the route.
Idris maintained that improved security was another example of how Nigerians across the country were benefiting from the administration’s policies.
1.6 Million Students Benefiting From NELFUND
The minister identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as another major intervention through which ordinary Nigerians were benefiting from the Tinubu administration.
He said approximately 1.6 million Nigerian students had benefited from the programme, which provides financial assistance to eligible students pursuing higher education.
According to him, the initiative was designed to ensure that qualified students were not denied access to tertiary education because their parents or guardians could not afford tuition fees and other expenses.
“When security improves, everyone benefits. If you are looking for an example, if these reforms are touching the lives of ordinary people, the 1.6 million Nigerian students benefiting from NELFUND didn’t come from another planet. They are Nigerians who are living within the shores of Nigeria,” Idris said.
Nigeria’s FATF Delisting and Improved Credit Ratings
Idris also cited Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in the fourth quarter of 2025 as evidence of improved international confidence in the country.
He said the development had strengthened Nigeria’s ability to conduct international business without the additional scrutiny associated with its previous grey-list status.
The minister further referenced assessments by international credit rating agencies, including Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, as indicators of improved economic confidence.
He also claimed that headline and food inflation were declining while the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was recording growth.
Idris recalled that foreign investors and international airlines previously faced difficulties repatriating funds from Nigeria, but said the Tinubu administration had addressed the challenge by providing assurances that legitimate transactions could be completed.
Idris Acknowledges More Work Needed
Despite highlighting the administration’s achievements, the minister acknowledged that Nigeria had yet to reach its desired economic targets.
He maintained, however, that the reforms were gradually producing results and laying the groundwork for future prosperity.
“These are all examples of when people say reforms are working, but we don’t know who is benefiting, and I say every Nigerian is benefiting,” he said.
Idris urged journalists to continue holding the government accountable while also reporting developments and policies that positively affect society.
He argued that responsible journalism should not focus exclusively on negative developments but should also recognise areas of progress.
“It is important to criticise; it is important to point out areas of correction. Indeed, that is your role as journalists, but it is also important that you know that it is not only when you are adversarial that you can lay claim to good journalism or media,” he said.
The minister called on Nigerians to support the country’s development while maintaining the distinction between criticism of government policies and negative portrayals of the country.
He expressed optimism that the administration’s reform agenda would deliver more visible results over the next four years.
