The Federal Government has said that the Eastern Railway Corridor from Port Harcourt through Aba and Enugu, in the South-East geo-political zone, to Maiduguri, is a priority of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
Thus, the federal government recently sought for $3billion for the modernisation of that railway corridor. The hint was dropped on Thursday night by the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, during a town hall meeting held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu, the Enugu State capital.
The Minister commended Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to the transformation of Enugu State through the provision of modern infrastructure, which has boosted the state’s economy. Mr. Idris who was in Enugu on a one-day inspection of federal government projects in the state, said the exercise was part of efforts by his ministry to connect directly with the people on President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said: “Our goal is simple — to bridge the communication gap between government and citizens, block the spread of misinformation, and strengthen participatory democracy through open dialogue.” He explained that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was anchored on eight pillars – reforming the economy, securing the nation, and ensuring prosperity for all Nigerians.
Others are boosting agriculture to achieve food security, unlock energy and natural resources for sustainable development, enhance infrastructure and transportation, focus on education, health, and social investment, accelerate diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation, and also, improve governance for effective service delivery.
Idris enumerated the major policy reforms of President Tinubu since he assumed office on May 29, 2023, to include the removal of fuel subsidy, and the unification of foreign exchange rates. According to him, “while these reforms brought initial hardship, targeted interventions such as wage awards, higher minimum wage, cash transfers, food security programmes, and cheaper Compressed Natural Gas for transport, are cushioning the impact.”
He said the reforms had led to the availability of more funds to states and local governments across the states to embark on infrastructure and human capital development. “In the South-East, these funds are delivering tangible impact, such as the laudable infrastructure projects we inspected earlier today across Enugu State, some of which were Federal Government projects, and scores of others by the Government of Enugu State,” he said.
Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman chatting with Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, and other dignitaries during interaction with Enugu stakeholders at the ICC Enugu
He lauded Enugu state Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for defining the sort of harmony required by the centre and the states for national development. Minister Idris told his audience made up of traditional rulers, captains of industry, civil society organisations, women organizations, students, National Assembly members from the state, that over 1000 primary healthcare centres have been rehabilitated nationwide, including those in the South-East.
He recalled that about two weeks ago, the federal government commissioned a world-class oncology and cancer centre at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, saying it’s no longer necessary for cancer patients to travel outside the country for treatment.
The minister also recalled the establishment of new development commission in those regions that previously had none, saying the idea is to ensure that no region is left behind in terms of development. On security, Minister Idris announced that the Tinubu-led administration has invested in modern equipment, more personnel, and better intelligence gathering, thus weakening criminal networks.
He said that the federal government has created unprecedented opportunities for the youths, “with more young people in the Federal Executive Council, and agency leadership than ever before.” According to him, about 450,000 students have accessed loans from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, and nearly 90,000 Nigerians have benefited from the Consumer Credit Scheme.
He said: “Recognizing the South-East’s industrial strength, the government has created three key business funds totalling ₦200bn: the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS); the FGN MSME Intervention Fund, and the FGN Manufacturing Sector Fund.
“I want to call on entrepreneurs to take advantage of these funds and embrace the “Nigeria First” policy that promotes patronage of locally made products.
“It’s delightful to see that Enugu and Imo states are among the 11 states that have received regulatory autonomy to oversee the electricity market in their states, from generation to distribution, thanks to the Electricity Act signed into law by President Tinubu at the inception of this administration.
“We expect other states of the region to key into this policy as soon as possible. Indeed, economic stability is returning; food prices are easing, forex markets stabilizing, and global rating agencies are optimistic about our trajectory toward a $1 trillion economy by 2030. While challenges remain, the progress is real.”
He expressed optimism that by the end of President Tinubu’s first term, “the benefits of reforms will be clearer, as the federal government remains committed to transparency, accountability, and delivering the dividends of democracy to all Nigerians.”
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Chairman, Enugu state Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Igwe Sir Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, urged for the creation of roles for traditional rulers in the constitution.
He thanked President Tinubu for approving the appointment for the first time an indigene of Nsukka political zone, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, as the Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN).
The Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, expressed satisfaction over President Tinubu’s developmental strides in Enugu as well as the South East, and urged the people to queue behind the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration. Minister Idris had on arrival in Enugu, paid a courtesy visit to the state Governor Dr. Peter Mbah at Government House.
He later embarked on an inspection tour of completed and on-going federal government projects in the state, including the multi-billion Naira Eke-Obinagu flyover, linking the state with Ebonyi and Cross Rivers States and the ongoing rehabilitation of Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway.
The minister who was welcomed by jubilant residents of the area, urged the people to protect federal government investments in the state, and also support the administration’’s efforts at promoting their standard of living.
The minister also visited the Oncology Centre established by the federal government at the UNTH for the treatment of cancer, where patients thanked President Tinubu for taking ample interest in the improvement of the health sector.
