Tinubu’s Reforms Target Historical Errors — Minister

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that the Tinubu administration’s primary objective is to correct historical errors, not to impose hardship on Nigerians.

During a briefing for the Diplomatic Community in Abuja on Wednesday, Idris emphasized the President’s commitment to implementing reforms that drive sustainable growth and improve citizens’ quality of life.

“President Tinubu did not come to office to cause hardship or make life difficult for Nigerians. He has come to office with bold solutions to historical problems and the determination to correct many poor policies and dysfunctional choices that have held us back as a nation for decades,” Idris said.

Nigerians have been protesting the rising cost of living, attributing it to the government’s economic policies, which they say have caused widespread pain.

Despite President Tinubu’s call for dialogue in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, the protesters rejected the offer.

Idris acknowledged the current hardships and noted that the administration’s decisive actions, including the removal of the fuel subsidy, are aimed at redirecting funds towards critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security.

“The costly, wasteful, and unsustainable fuel subsidy regime had denied Nigeria the opportunity to invest in critical infrastructure, social services, and the welfare of its citizens,” Idris said.

He highlighted comprehensive intervention programs designed by the Federal Government to alleviate the impact of these reforms on Nigerians.

Regarding the nationwide protests, Idris affirmed the government’s respect for peaceful assembly and freedom of expression but noted that the protests were hijacked by violent elements, resulting in arson, vandalism, and loss of lives and property.

He assured that the Federal Government acted swiftly to restore peace and is investigating the violence to bring perpetrators to justice.

“We are committed to preventing the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents in the future,” Idris concluded.