*Mohammed Idris.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris on Monday told senior editors and journalists that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has turned the corner on macroeconomic indicators and is focused on translating those gains into improved living standards for Nigerians.
Speaking at a media chat at the Radio House in Abuja, Idris said the economy is projected to grow by more than 4 per cent in 2026. He said Nigeria recorded a current account surplus of $12.0 billion in the first half of 2026, up from $8.6 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. Inflation has declined from about 27 per cent in January 2025 to around 15 per cent, with a target of single-digit levels. External reserves exceeded $54 billion in September, the highest in nearly two decades, while the foreign exchange market has stabilised.
The Minister added that non-oil exports surpassed $6 billion in 2025, the highest on record, benefiting sectors including agriculture, mining, manufacturing and logistics. Oil production has risen amid reduced theft, boosting revenue for the three tiers of government.
“The reforms are strengthening our economic fundamentals, rebuilding confidence and creating the conditions for broader prosperity,” Idris said. He acknowledged ongoing cost-of-living pressures on households and stressed the administration’s determination to ensure stronger indicators translate into more jobs, affordable services and greater purchasing power.
The minister highlighted infrastructure and sectoral investments. Four legacy road projects spanning about 3,000 kilometres across all six geopolitical zones are under way, alongside hundreds of other road, rail, port, power, health and education projects. A recently approved ₦1.5 trillion highway project in Niger State aims to improve connectivity in a key agricultural corridor.
In agriculture, he said the government is prioritising food security through mechanisation, inputs, irrigation and financing. Five cancer treatment centres have been commissioned, with a target of 10. The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicle Initiative has attracted about $2.5 billion in private investment and ₦250 billion in government funding, with more than 120,000 vehicles converted, over 400 certified centres and more than 90 refuelling stations operational.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has supported over 1.6 million students with more than ₦192 billion in fees and ₦180 billion in upkeep allowances, he said. He added that the Three Million Technical Talent programme is expanding digital skills training. A ₦758 billion bond has cleared pension arrears dating back to 2007 for nearly one million pensioners, while ₦1.2 trillion in bonds settled inherited debts to generation and gas companies. The National Social Register is supporting more than 10 million households.
On security, Idris said the administration has strengthened the operational capacity of the armed forces, intelligence services and other agencies. He cited successes against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, including the neutralisation of commanders, disruption of networks, rescue of hostages and dismantling of criminal enclaves, as well as improved oil production in the Niger Delta through action against theft and vandalism.
He acknowledged that serious challenges persist in parts of the country and assured that the government “will neither relent nor retreat” in securing every part of Nigeria. “The security of Nigerians is not negotiable,” he said.
Idris noted the president’s emphasis on true federalism, including increased fiscal transfers, efforts toward local government autonomy, proposals for state police and electricity reforms that empower states. He pointed to a World Bank finding that states’ combined capital expenditure rose 151 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025.
Addressing fuel prices, the minister said rising energy costs are a global challenge and that the administration remains committed to reforms while expanding affordable energy alternatives and domestic production to ease the cost of living.
He framed the progress within the Renewed Hope Agenda’s eight priority areas, describing them as an interconnected programme of national transformation. “The Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering results. Its achievements are measurable, its impact is expanding, and its direction is unmistakable,” Idris said, while calling on journalists to report pressures alongside causes, progress and remaining work.