Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi has said the federal government would release more palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the impact of sufferings occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
Malagi also appealed to Nigerians to be patient over the pains arising from the removal of fuel subsidy, saying it is temporary.
The minister stated this Tuesday when he received Niger state Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, who paid him a courtesy call at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
“Mr President has asked us to tell Nigerians that more palliatives are coming their way, he is working day and night tirelessly with his council members and advisers to ensure that every hardship Nigerians are facing is turned around within the shortest possible time,” he said.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of the suffering of Nigerians and working to ensure that he turns things around for the better.
He said: “We know that the times are hard. Mr President has acknowledged that. He has said that he is aware that Nigerians are experiencing hardship arising from the removal of fuel subsidy and the downturn of the economy.
“You will agree with me that the fuel subsidy that was removed was actually in the best interest of Nigerians. He has said repeatedly that Nigerians would feel the pains from the subsidy removal temporarily before experiencing the gains.
“States governments have started feeling the positive impact of the fuel subsidy removal. Within a short time, a lot of money has been saved and part of that money is already being sent to states so that the difficulties occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy is reduced.
“Assorted grains have been sent to states and each state has received the sum of 5billion Naira in the first instance and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also got about 2 billion in the first instance. Mr President is aware that is not enough, but the first necessary step that he has to take to ensure that this hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal is cushioned.”
Malagi added that his ministry would work tirelessly to ensure it turns around the negative image and perception of Nigeria around the world and also properly propagate the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu.
“The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation is actually the custodian of the image of Nigeria and also the custodian of the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr President.
“What that means is that everything about Renewed Hope should actually begin from this house.
“You are aware that Mr President has eight priority areas of focus of his administration from security, to food security, education, health, job creation and the turnaround of our economy.
“Only yesterday, Mr President had his first meeting with the newly constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC) and Mr President gave some form of marching order to the new ministers to ensure that the eight priority areas of his administration are known and begin to be felt by Nigerians.”
He noted that Tinubu was desirous of changing the face of Nigeria by ensuring that the economic turnaround of Nigeria was achieved within the shortest possible time.
“He is also desirous in ensuring that the image of Nigeria is restored. This ministry is at the forefront of that. Mr President in yesterday’s FEC meeting told the ministers that there is no time to waste and that every sector, every department and every facet of life must turn a new leaf. By that, he means that everything has to move positively,” the minister said.
Bago
Speaking with journalists on what he is doing to end spate of insecurity in Niger state, Governor Bago said he was working with the federal government and security agencies to ensure lasting peace returns to the state.
He also said he would position Niger state to become the agricultural hub of Nigeria.
“Government is working and some of these things are not for public consumption, some of the things that the security agencies are doing are not what will come out and talk before the cameras, what i can tell you is that Mr President is deeply concerned and is working around the clock to ensure that peace returns to Nigeria, and he will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that it happens.
“The sub-national entities are keying into the programmes and projects of the President. Niger state has 8.6 million hectares of land with 6000sq km of arable land, 4 Hydropower dam, we are 10 percent of the total size of Nigeria, so we are poised and positioned for Agriculture in terms of animal husbandry, crop production, aquaculture and other ways of food security,” Bago said.
