SPEECH BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION, MOHAMMED IDRIS, FNIPR, AT A CITIZENS’ ENGAGEMENT FORUM HELD AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, EBONYI STATE, ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2025
Protocols
I’m delighted to be here today in Ebonyi, the Salt of the Nation, in continuation of our two-day South East geo-political zone citizens’ engagement series, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, specially designed to engage directly with Nigerians across the six geo-political zones.
I bring you greetings from His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Federal Executive Council. As you are aware, the commitment of Mr. President to the socio-economic development of Ebonyi State and the entire South-East is unwavering.
He is right on track to transform and move the region forward, as promised when he came here to campaign in November 2022.
First and foremost, this event is not a mere talk shop. We are here to present our scorecard, give our report of stewardship, take feedback and recommendations, and interact directly with the good people of the state.
This is consistent with the mission of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to reenact trust in public communication by deepening the social contract between government and citizens, and restoring public confidence in governance.
Two years ago, through the mandate and support of the people, President Tinubu embarked on what has become the most audacious economic reform undertaken by any previous government. In our pursuit to breathe life into our ailing economy, we waded into uncharted territories and took the road never travelled.
By leaps and bounds, we tamed the beasts that had brought our country to its knees and held our economic development hostage. We removed fuel subsidy, unified the foreign exchange market, and began the sweeping restructuring of critical organs of our national existence.
Since this new dispensation of economic revitalization, allocation to state and local governments has more than doubled, providing the required resources for the initiation of new projects and the completion of abandoned projects.
We are witnessing an unprecedented explosion of infrastructure projects across most states of the country, financed by funds made available through subsidy removal and other economic policies of the President Tinubu-led government.
We promised to let the poor breathe, and to prove it, our new tax law now excludes minimum wage earners from paying tax. We pledged to make tertiary education accessible to all. In just a year, about 450,000 students are now beneficiaries of our game-changing Student Loan initiative. We have also not recorded any ASUU strike since we took office. Payment of N70,000 minimum wage and N77,000 NYSC stipends has commenced. We have not only matched words with actions, but also acted with sheer dedication and responsibility.
On security, we are leaving no stone unturned in decimating criminals, bandits, and terrorists threatening the peace and sovereignty of our country, from South to North, East to West. In the last two years, we have neutralized over 12,000 criminals and rescued over 9,000 hostages across the country. We have recorded great success in making the South East safe and rendering the sit-at-home orders by secessionists ineffective.
In fulfilling the pledge of equitable regional development and inclusion by our party, the federal government has created 5 new regional development commissions and the Ministry of Regional Development.
It is gratifying to note that the South East Development Commission has hit the ground running in its pursuit to build a $200 billion economy for the region by 2035.
Furthermore, Mr President has graciously approved the establishment of the South East Investment Corporation, tasked with mobilizing private capital, boosting industrialization, and driving inclusive growth, with a projected capital base of N150 billion.
We are not just moving the needle on infrastructure, we are turning the tide. Port Harcourt – Aba railway project has been completed, delivered, and is in operation.
The Federal Executive Council has also approved the allocation of $3billion for the completion of the 2,044km Eastern Rail Line, projected to unlock N50billion for the region in annual trade while connecting economic hubs in this region to markets in the Northern part of the country.
Also, $508million has been earmarked for the upgrade and modernization of Eastern Port infrastructure. We have also inaugurated 118.85km of the Ebonyi section of the Calabar - Abuja Super Highway.
The Federal Government, in April 2025, flagged off the Cancer Centre of Excellence at the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu. Just about three weeks ago, I was also in Enugu alongside Ministers of Health and Finance to commission a world-class Oncology Centre at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka.
As part of efforts to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on nano, micro, and small businesses, the Federal Government, through the Bank of Industry, injected about N200billion into this critical sector of the economy in the form of grants and loans, benefitting over 900,000 business owners.
Also, in October 2024, Vice President Kashim Shettima commissioned Nigeria’s largest Ultra-Modern Fashion and Garment Hub, launched the 5th MSME Clinic in the South-East, and disbursed N150,000 grant to business owners.
Thanks to the Electricity Act signed by President Tinubu at the inception of his administration, 11 states have received regulatory autonomy to oversee the electricity market in their states, from generation to distribution. Two of the 11 states are from the South East. We are delighted that more states, including Ebonyi, are making all the necessary efforts to leverage the provisions of the Electricity Act.
Indeed, we are not resting on our oars. President Tinubu’s vision is to build a $1 trillion economy, reverse the infrastructure deficit gap, achieve food security, improve the living conditions of the masses, and bequeath a prosperous nation to future generations. With your support, this vision will become a reality.
Finally, I commend our host, His Excellency Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for the massive infrastructural projects he has completed and initiated since May 2023. His success across all sectors of the state is a testament to what is possible when state and federal governments work in synergy to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
May God bless Ebonyi State
May God bless the South East
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mohammed Idris, fnipr
Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Friday, August 15, 2025
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