Nigerians have been reassured of the commitment of the Federal Government towards ensuring transparency, public engagement and citizens participation in national development.
Head of Centre, Federal Ministry of Information and Resource Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Mrs Yemisi Omotola, gave the assurance at a one-day sensitization engagement to the Mid-Term report of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, across the thirty-six states of the federation.
Mrs Omotola said the programme spearheaded by the Minister of the Ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, was to acquaint citizens with government policy initiatives in line with President Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda.
The event touched on diverse areas such as agriculture, employment, health, security,among others, where the federal government was adjudged to have performed excellently, while in education, it was unfolded that the National Education Loan Fund,NELFUND, had so far disbursed #549,199,000 to students beneficiaries in Ekiti state.
In a keynote address, Special Adviser to governor Biodun Oyebanji, on Media and Publicity, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, scored Tinubu’s administration high, pointing out that it has re-engineered different areas of the nation’s economy through its policies and programmes.
He cited the position of the former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy, now Director-General, World Trade Organization,WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who not long ago commended the Nigerian President for stabilizing the economy. But not downplaying the advice from the economic expert to the government that efforts should be made to address the pervading poverty in the land.
The media adviser underscored that Ekiti has not been left out in the scheme of things.
The full text:
‘Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“In matter of style, swim with the current, in matter of principle, stand like a rock”- Thomas Jefferson
The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, changed the course of public discuss last week when she commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for working to stabilize Nigeria’s economy, saying the reforms under his administration are moving in the right direction.
Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged that the administration’s initial reforms had delivered much-needed stability.
“We think that the President and his team, have worked hard to stabilize the economy, and you cannot really improve an economy unless it’s stable. So he has to be given the credit for the stability of the economy. So the reforms have been in the right direction,” she said.
She stressed that the combination of economic stability, targeted growth policies, and robust safety nets would be critical to job creation and poverty reduction.
Of course some naysayers faulted Okonjo Iweala’s assertion, but viewed from an objective point of view, one would realise that the former Minister of Finance was stating the obvious fact.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, in the last two years, impacted positively on the lives of the people. His policies are bold and daring and yet liberating- bringing about the structural change upon which sustainable growth and prosperity are built.
Like the President himself said during his address to the National Assembly in commemoration of the June 12 Democracy Day 2025, the Government has intensified security operations to reclaim communities from criminals and terrorists. “We are better at coordinating intelligence and inter-agency cooperation has improved. Our highways are safer and we invest in technology and training to secure every inch of this country”, the President said.
The Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government is also redefining our place in the comity of nations.
The results of the President’s policies in the last two years have shown in critical sectors and the numbers are really looking good. Here are some highlights –
· Over 900,000 beneficiaries of Presidential loan and Grant scheme
· Ove 300,000 beneficiaries of students. Loan scheme
· Over 440 ongoing road projects including over 2,700km of super highways
· 3.84 per cent GDP growth in Q4 2024 highest in 3 years
· 70,000 naira minimum wage payment
· Over 13,500 terrorists eliminated
· Over $50 bilion in new FDI commitments
· Net foreign exchange reserves up from $3.99 billion (2023) to $23.11 billion (2024)
· Over $8 billion in new oil and gas investments unlocked
· 4 new landmark Tax Bills – remarkably the new tax law provides exemption for small businesses.
· 5 new regional development commissions
· Over $800 million realized in processing investments in minerals in 2024
The beauty of the present administration is that it has chosen a well defined path to growth, development and progress. More beautiful is that fact the President, being a visionary leader who is adequately prepared for the assignment, possesses the political will required to build on these initial gains to achieve a more enduring gains that will put the country on the path of irreversible progress and prosperity.
In Ekiti, we feel the impact of the President’s economic policies in the area of socioeconomic development. This, no doubt, has brought a remarkable improvement in infrastructure as well as the standard of living of the citizens.
The Governor, His Excellency Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, unarguably, one of the most vocal supporters of the President’s economic policy. The Governor makes bold to admit that the development strides being recorded in Ekiti State were made possible because the President freed more money to the sub nationals. So, states have more money to spend on programmes and projects that have direct impact on the people. So, when people talk of the huge number of and the high quality of infrastructure projects going on in Ekiti State, they should credit Mr President for his support for the State government under the leadership of His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.
The achievements of the President in the last two years point clearly to the fact that the next two years shall be much more prosperous as the various policies and programmes of the Federal Government continue to yield the expected dividends. I am of the opinion that the first two years of the administration is but a foretaste of what is to come. Again, to whom much is expected, much ought to be given. The Nigerian people should give the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu –led Federal Government all the support it requires, as we await the full manifestation of the inherent benefits of the presdient’s economic policies in the next two years.
Other paper presentations from different government agencies including that of the representative of the state commissioner for information also dwelt on the federal government’s efforts aimed at making life more meaningful for the citizens, with special emphasis on the level at which Ekiti state has been one of the benefitting states.
