The Federal Government has called on all citizens not to focus solely on the country’s challenges and problems but rather embrace the abundant opportunities and positive narratives that surround the nation.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the statement on Sunday while acknowledging the “challenging season” faced by the country.

“We will not succeed at building the Nigeria of our dreams if we insist on focusing only on our challenges and problems, and not the abundant opportunities and positive narratives that we are surrounded by,” Idris said.

Idris, in the statement, cited the nation’s current struggles with inflation and security threats but noted that the government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is taking “bold measures” to address these issues.

“We fully acknowledge the duty and the responsibility of care that the Federal Government owes to every Nigerian, across the lines of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, and social class,”
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“In the area of security, all threats are being boldly confronted. We are taking the fight to the criminals’ dens, with promising results. Within the last week, several bandits, kidnappers and militants have been neutralised or arrested.

The minister also noted the resurgent crisis in Plateau State, describing it as “ highly regrettable,” and assured citizens that all perpetrators of violence are being brought to book.

Regarding the economy, he stated that all ministries and agencies of the government are working in a coordinated fashion to bring down inflation, stabilise foreign exchange rates, and create a truly enabling environment for business and investment.

“Impactful interventions are being rolled out, including a Students’ Loan Scheme, a Presidential Initiative to deploy lower-cost CNG mass transit buses to provide alternatives to petrol and diesel, and various low-interest loan schemes for businesses. The CNG interventions will bring down the cost of transportation by more than 50 percent. We urge Nigerians to take advantage of these opportunities as they emerge, as they have been designed for the benefit of all.”

Idris, however, urged Nigerians to resist narratives of division and misinformation, particularly regarding the relocation of FAAN and CBN departments to Lagos.

“These allegations are unfounded. Instead, these are pragmatic administrative steps to improve operational efficiency and reduce operating costs.”