- Idris says Tinubu’s reforms yielding outcomes regardless of excessive dwelling prices
- Lists falling inflation, $55bn reserves, scholar loans as key achievements
•Science minister defends reforms, seeks president’s re-election
Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Enugu
Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday mounted a recent marketing campaign to win the North over for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, assuring the area that it had nothing to worry from one other 4 years of the administration and insisting that it stood to profit much more if the president secured a second time period in 2027.
With the battle for 2027 gathering momentum, Shettima urged northern political leaders and residents to shut ranks behind Tinubu, arguing that the area had already benefited from the administration’s appointments, agricultural interventions and infrastructure initiatives.
The vp spoke on the State House, Abuja, when he acquired a delegation of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern-based political group campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election, urging the area not to view one other Tinubu presidency with apprehension however as a possibility to consolidate the positive factors he mentioned the area had recorded below the administration.
Also, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, yesterday mentioned Nigeria’s financial reforms below Tinubu have been starting to produce measurable outcomes, citing declining inflation, rising overseas trade reserves, improved oil manufacturing and elevated funding in infrastructure and social programmes.
In the identical vein, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh (SAN) has defended Tinubu’s quest for a second time period in workplace, sustaining that the president deserves to keep for one more 4 years in Aso Rock to full his ‘bold’ financial reforms.
Shettima urged political leaders and residents throughout the area to unite behind the administration, arguing that the North had benefited from its insurance policies, appointments and improvement initiatives and stood to achieve extra if Tinubu secured one other time period.
According to him, the administration’s dedication to the area’s improvement and the welfare of its individuals ought to encourage northern stakeholders to help its continuation past 2027.
“Let’s unite as a people and work for the development of our region and the progress of our people through the re-election of this administration. We are benefiting and we stand to benefit more from this government in many ways,” the vp mentioned.
He cited the Bank of Agriculture’s disbursement of N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers throughout the nation, saying about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries have been from the North.
“The Bank of Agriculture has disbursed N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria and about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries are from the North,” he mentioned.
Shettima additionally pointed to main infrastructure initiatives being undertaken by the administration, assuring the delegation that Tinubu remained dedicated to the area.
“The present administration is working towards completing landmark and groundbreaking projects in parts of the country. I can assure you that the president loves the North and the president will work for the North,” he mentioned.
The vp thanked the organisation for its help for Tinubu and urged its members to intensify mobilisation throughout wards, communities and native authorities areas within the area forward of the 2027 presidential election.
Earlier, the Director General of Arewa for Asiwaju and former Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, mentioned the group would maintain its mobilisation efforts till Tinubu was re-elected.
Badaru disclosed that the organisation deliberate to interact spiritual leaders, together with Muslim and Christian clerics, in addition to different outstanding Nigerians, to drum up help for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.
“On discussions with the high profile, we have gone far. We have met them several times and the BoT is meeting them again to consolidate our gains and to tell them why there is a need to support this ticket,” he mentioned.
He added that the group was additionally working with the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), whereas concentrating on grassroots mobilisation to complement the council’s broader actions.
Also talking, Chairman of the organisation’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, mentioned the group, which supported Tinubu’s election in 2023, was decided to repeat the feat in 2027.
Shekarau mentioned the organisation had been participating northern governors and different stakeholders to evaluate notes and establish areas of collaboration in direction of securing the president’s re-election.
He disclosed that the group had concluded plans to set up a totally fledged secretariat to coordinate its actions, with places of work for administrators and state coordinators who would collate reviews, analyse developments and challenge directives to members.
The former governor additionally formally invited Shettima to inaugurate the organisation’s workplace complicated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Among these current on the assembly have been former Plateau State governors Joshua Dariye and Simon Lalong; former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame; former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema; former Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda; the President’s Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman; and Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Buba Marwa.
Idris Lists Tinubu’s Achievements, Says Reforms Yielding Results
Also yesterday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, mentioned Nigeria’s financial reforms below Tinubu have been starting to produce measurable outcomes, citing declining inflation, rising overseas trade reserves, improved oil manufacturing and elevated funding in infrastructure and social programmes.
However, Idris acknowledged that many Nigerian households proceed to face vital cost-of-living pressures, stressing that the federal authorities’s precedence is to be certain that enhancements within the nation’s financial indicators translate into extra inexpensive important items and providers, elevated buying energy and higher dwelling circumstances.
Also, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh (SAN) has defended Tinubu’s quest for a second time period in workplace, sustaining that the president deserves to keep for one more 4 years in Aso Rock to full his ‘bold’ financial reforms.
Idris spoke throughout a media chat with senior editors at Radio House, Abuja, the place he outlined the administration’s financial efficiency, safety interventions, social investments and implementation of its Renewed Hope Agenda.
He maintained that the federal government’s financial reforms have been strengthening the nation’s fundamentals and restoring investor confidence, whereas conceding that extra work was required to be certain that the advantages reached households throughout the nation.
“Our task now is to ensure that this clear macroeconomic recovery is felt even more widely in the lives and households of Nigerians,” the minister mentioned.
He recognized meals costs, market transactions, transport and family spending as areas the place residents wanted to expertise tangible enhancements.
The minister recalled that the financial system is projected to develop above 4 per cent, saying the nation’s financial system was heading in the right direction to develop by greater than 4 per cent in 2026, whereas the nation’s exterior place and overseas trade market had improved.
He reiterated that Nigeria recorded a present account surplus of $12 billion within the first half of 2026, in contrast with $8.6 billion within the corresponding interval of 2025, stressing that inflation declined from roughly 27 per cent in January 2025 to round 15 per cent on the time of the briefing.
He described the event as an encouraging signal for family budgets however mentioned the federal government’s final goal remained to carry inflation into single digits.
According to him, exterior reserves exceeded $54 billion in September, representing their highest degree in nearly 20 years, including that the overseas trade market had stabilised sufficiently to allow companies and traders to make longer-term plans with larger confidence.
He defined that latest financial reporting has additionally documented the rise in Nigeria’s exterior reserves. Recent reviews point out that reserves stood at roughly $55.07 billion on October 8, citing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) knowledge.
The World Bank, in the meantime, projected common annual financial progress of 4.4 per cent via 2028, topic to continued reforms and enhancements in public service supply. The minister additional disclosed that Nigeria earned greater than $6 billion from non-oil exports in 2025, describing the determine as the very best within the nation’s historical past.
He mentioned the earnings supported companies and entrepreneurs throughout agriculture, mining, petrochemicals, manufacturing, processing, transportation and logistics.
Idris argued that the mix of stronger exterior reserves, elevated non-oil exports, improved oil manufacturing and a extra steady overseas trade market was creating alternatives for home funding and financial diversification.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that improved macroeconomic indicators should be accompanied by sensible advantages for Nigerians, notably these battling meals, transportation, vitality and different family bills.
The minister recognized infrastructure improvement as one of many principal channels via which the administration intends to translate financial restoration into employment and elevated financial exercise.
He defined that highway building initiatives generate earnings for contractors, suppliers, engineers, artisans, transport operators and meals distributors, whereas accomplished roads enhance connectivity, facilitate the motion of agricultural produce and enhance entry to markets.
According to Idris, the administration’s 4 legacy initiatives collectively cowl roughly 3,000 kilometres throughout Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. He mentioned the initiatives fashioned a part of a wider portfolio of highway, rail, port, electrical energy, healthcare and schooling investments being carried out throughout the nation.
The minister additionally highlighted the just lately accepted freeway mission valued at roughly N1.5 trillion in Niger State, describing it as an funding anticipated to enhance connectivity alongside an essential agricultural and industrial hall. He maintained that the initiatives have been supposed not solely to enhance transportation but additionally to stimulate financial exercise in communities alongside their routes.
The anticipated advantages, he mentioned, embrace quicker transportation of products, improved entry to industrial centres, elevated enterprise alternatives and stronger hyperlinks between rural producers and concrete markets.
Speaking on meals safety within the nation, the minister mentioned Tinubu locations meals safety on the centre of nationwide financial coverage, with authorities interventions centered on rising home agricultural manufacturing and bettering farmers’ incomes.
He listed mechanisation, improved entry to agricultural inputs, irrigation improvement and agricultural financing among the many measures being pursued to strengthen the sector.
According to the minister, these interventions are designed to enhance meals provides, enhance productiveness and make meals extra inexpensive for Nigerian households. He argued that larger agricultural output would additionally strengthen rural economies by supporting farmers, processors, transporters and different companies concerned within the meals provide chain.
The minister’s remarks come because the administration faces stress to reveal that financial stabilisation is producing significant enhancements within the affordability of fundamental commodities.
Although Idris described falling inflation as encouraging, he acknowledged that the federal government nonetheless wanted to be certain that the development was mirrored within the every day experiences of odd Nigerians.
The minister additionally outlined investments in healthcare and schooling, describing them as central to the administration’s efforts to enhance dwelling requirements and develop entry to important providers.
He disclosed that the federal authorities had just lately commissioned two further most cancers remedy centres, bringing the quantity commissioned below the initiative to 5 following the sooner commissioning of three.
The administration, he mentioned, was working in direction of making a complete of 10 most cancers remedy centres obtainable to Nigerians.
Idris added that the federal government was additionally pursuing the revitalisation of major healthcare services to develop entry to medical providers and strengthen the nationwide well being system.
On schooling, he mentioned the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) had supported greater than 1.6 million college students, with over N192 billion paid in institutional charges and roughly N180 billion supplied as maintenance allowances.
The programme, in accordance to the minister, is meant to cut back the monetary burden of tertiary schooling on college students, dad and mom and guardians. Idris mentioned the intervention was a part of the federal government’s broader social funding programme, which seeks to cut back monetary obstacles to schooling and help entry to larger studying.
He additionally highlighted the Three Million Technical Talent programme, which goals to develop younger Nigerians’ entry to digital abilities in software program improvement, knowledge science, cybersecurity and different rising applied sciences.
The minister mentioned funding in technical coaching, innovation and digital capabilities was supposed to put together younger individuals for employment alternatives whereas supporting the nation’s wider financial diversification aims.
He added that renewed consideration to home refining, strong minerals, industrial manufacturing and innovation was anticipated to help sustainable employment and cut back dependence on conventional sources of overseas trade.
Idris mentioned the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicle Initiative had attracted roughly $2.5 billion in personal funding, alongside about N250 billion in authorities funding and commitments.
He disclosed that greater than 120,000 autos had been transformed below the initiative, whereas the nation had established greater than 400 licensed conversion centres. According to him, Nigeria additionally had greater than 90 refuelling stations, with roughly 180 further stations below improvement.
Idris mentioned the rising community of conversion centres and refuelling infrastructure was producing enterprise alternatives and employment in host communities.
He additionally linked the programme to the administration’s wider response to rising vitality prices, arguing that inexpensive alternate options and stronger home manufacturing may contribute to easing stress on households and companies.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government had issued a N758 billion bond to settle pension arrears courting again so far as 2007, with nearly a million pensioners anticipated to profit.
He described the intervention as a part of the administration’s effort to handle inherited monetary obligations and enhance the welfare of retired staff.
Idris additionally introduced that the federal government had issued N1.2 trillion in bonds to settle inherited money owed owed to electrical energy technology and gasoline corporations. He mentioned clearing these obligations would assist lay the muse for brand spanking new investments within the energy sector, the place excellent funds and financing constraints have remained vital issues.
The minister additional disclosed that the National Social Register was directing help to greater than 10 million households, whereas the Consumer Credit Corporation was serving to working Nigerians unfold the price of important purchases.
On nationwide safety, Idris mentioned the safety of lives and property remained the primary duty of the federal government and a central precedence He mentioned the federal authorities had strengthened the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces, intelligence providers and different safety companies via improved coordination, tools, logistics and help for personnel deployed to the frontlines.
According to the minister, safety operations throughout a number of theatres had recorded successes in opposition to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and different legal teams. He mentioned terrorist commanders and legal kingpins had been neutralised, rebel networks disrupted, hostages rescued and legal enclaves dismantled.
Idris additionally highlighted operations within the Niger Delta concentrating on crude oil theft, unlawful refining and pipeline vandalism, saying the measures had contributed to improved oil manufacturing and the safety of nationwide income.
He mentioned the federal government was inspired by efforts to restore entry to communities and financial actions in areas affected by insecurity.
Addressing gasoline costs, the minister acknowledged that rising vitality prices have been inserting stress on households, companies and the broader financial system. He mentioned governments internationally have been adopting totally different measures to defend their economies and cushion the results of upper vitality prices on residents.
Idris maintained that Tinubu remained dedicated to the financial reforms launched by his administration whereas recognising the necessity to defend public welfare.
According to him, the federal government’s strategy contains increasing inexpensive vitality alternate options, strengthening home manufacturing and creating circumstances for sustainable reductions in the price of dwelling.
Science Minister: President Deserves Second Term
Meanwhile, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Udeh, has defended Tinubu’s quest for a second time period in workplace, sustaining that the president deserves to keep for one more 4 years to full his financial reforms.
Udeh, who’s a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, whereas showing on Arise News Prime Time, insisted that Tinubu has the aptitude to lead Nigeria out of the woods.
He backed the place that the presidency stays within the southern a part of the nation until 203, according to energy rotation association.
Alluding to the challenges that Tinubu is getting from fellow southerners who’re flying the presidential banners of opposition events, the minister mentioned that the South-west ought to retain it given that he’s from that zone.
Udeh acknowledged that the South-east area has not produced Nigeria’s elected president however said that he believed that it will finally occur at a time sooner or later. However, he added that profitable the presidency would finally depend upon engagements throughout Nigeria’s areas, and profitable votes from throughout Nigeria.
When requested what argument the ruling APC was advancing for Tinubu’s re-election, Udeh mentioned the president, who remains to be in his first time period, had initiated reforms that have been starting to produce optimistic outcomes.
“Well, (the argument) is that Mr. President is in his first term, and has started reforms that are beginning to make a positive impact in the lives of Nigerians. It is not yet fully realised, but you can even tell that we are no longer as bad as we were in 2023, 2024,” he added.
To buttress his argument the minister cited statistics on Nigeria’s financial progress, saying the nation has moved from about 2 per cent progress in 2023 to about 4 per cent presently. He additionally argued that elevated income obtainable to sub-national governments was creating alternatives for states and native governments to undertake improvement initiatives.
Referencing Enugu State, Udeh said that developments recorded within the Coal City State to this point in infrastructure and transportation have been unprecedented.
On the argument that the financial progress that the federal government is pointing to had not essentially translated into improved dwelling requirements for odd Nigerians, Udeh acknowledged that inflation and hardship have been but to abate.
“We know that there’s inflation. We know that there’s still hardship. But we also know that Nigeria has been put on the track for development, to come out from economic hardship,” the minister mentioned.
