The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is under the influence of a cabal or inner circle.
Speaking at the All Progressives Congress National Summit in Abuja on Thursday, Idris said the President makes decisions independently, guided solely by national interest.
The minister’s media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, revealed this in a statement.
“You need to study the President very well. You can have your voice; you can say what you want to say; he will listen to you but his decision is ultimately his own,” Idris told attendees at the summit.
He noted that Tinubu’s leadership is marked by bold decision-making and inclusivity, which he said reflects in the policies rolled out under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda,” the minister said, “is about positively impacting the lives of the people of Nigeria, through bold decisions designed to unleash the full scale of Nigerian potential, in a way that has never been seen or done before.”
According to the minister, the President inherited a country facing serious challenges but responded swiftly with transformative policies.
Among the President’s first major reforms were the removal of petrol and foreign exchange subsidies, steps Idris described as necessary to stop longstanding economic drain.
He said these reforms are now yielding results, with improvements seen across various sectors, including infrastructure, social investment, and resource management.
Idris highlighted several ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Kano-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway, saying they symbolise the administration’s commitment to national integration and economic expansion.
He also noted the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Projects as key interventions aimed at reducing housing shortages and boosting job creation.
In the digital space, the government is rolling out 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable across the country.
The project, Idris said, aims to bridge the digital divide, support smart governance, and attract investment in digital services.
On education and financial access, the minister said approximately 300,000 students have so far benefited from the National Education Loan Fund, while workers are beginning to access credit through a newly introduced Consumer Credit Scheme.
Touching on security, Idris reported significant gains by the armed forces, including the neutralisation and arrest of thousands of insurgents and the rescue of nearly 10,000 hostages.
The acquisition of new military equipment and naval vessels, he said, has enhanced Nigeria’s security posture.
He also mentioned new federal initiatives like the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development and the establishment of regional development commissions across all six geopolitical zones to deepen agricultural reform and regional growth.
The minister said the Renewed Hope Agenda is ultimately about impacting everyday Nigerians, improving access to education, healthcare, affordable food, and energy.
He cited new power initiatives and the adoption of compressed natural gas as cost-effective energy alternatives.
Idris also pointed to the recent enactment of the “Renewed Hope Nigeria First” policy, which mandates government ministries and agencies to prioritise locally made goods and services in public spending.
He described the policy as a major step toward boosting local industry and safeguarding the economy from global instability.
“This is historically unprecedented,” Idris said, adding that the policy lays the groundwork for what he called Nigeria’s economic renaissance.