FG: Nigeria’s $1 Trillion Economy Goal Is Work in Progress But Renewed Hope Agenda Is Gaining Momentum
The Federal Government of Nigeria says its ambitious plan to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 remains achievable, even though “it is not yet Uhuru” — signalling progress but acknowledging ongoing challenges. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is “cruising well” and that Nigerians will be better off by the end of the president’s first term.
Speaking to journalists after two economic meetings in Abuja on Monday night — one hosted by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma with key APC political actors and another with Seplat Oil’s management led by Senator Udoma Udo Udoma — Minister Idris outlined the government’s view on its economic reform path.
He said the meetings, which are part of regular consultations by the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), help align the relationship between federal and state governments and assess progress on shared goals.
“When you want to lay a solid foundation, you have to endure some pain, and this is what we have gone through,” Idris said. “But I can tell you that Nigeria’s economy is now on a solid footing, and it is going towards the destination that Mr. President has promised. For the \$1 trillion economy, we’re gradually going there. Food sufficiency, we’re going there. Insecurity that has bedeviled this country for a long period of time is being tackled by Mr. President and all the Governors. The kind of deficit that the Governors and the central government is having in terms of resources is also being tackled.”
He emphasised that the consultations with governors, especially the Progressive Governors, provide important feedback that shapes the government’s communication strategy: “We put that into account, take this feedback, and that will help us to, of course, fashion out our communication for Nigerians to understand better so that we can have that prosperous country that Mr. President has promised Nigerians.”
Idris acknowledged his role as Minister of Information is to “communicate, to tell Nigerians what is happening, to tell Nigerians the effort that government is making,” while recognizing that tangible infrastructure development happens through other ministries.
He reassured Nigerians that “The Renewed Hope Agenda is cruising and going well. People’s hopes are being renewed. We are hearing every day the positives coming out of the economy. All the rating agencies in the world are rating Nigeria’s economy better now.”
However, Idris cautioned, “It is not yet Uhuru. It is not yet El Dorado. We all know but it’s work in progress. This is just at the mid-term. We know that by the time that Mr. President completes the first four years, Nigerians will be better off for it.”
Addressing concerns about reform acceptance, Idris said the public has shown understanding because “You can see that resources are being freed for Governors and the central government to have enough, for them to deliver the promises of democracy that they’ve given to them.”
He concluded, “I think it’s a work in progress, but we’re happy with where we are going. We think that Nigeria will be better off for it.”
Friday Olokor
