The Federal Government has stated that one of the boldest and most consequential decisions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration was the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing it as a painful but necessary reform.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, disclosed this on Thursday while delivering his speech at the Conference of Commissioners for Information in APC states, organised by the Progressive Governors’ Forum in Minna, the Niger State capital.

The minister revealed that, beyond saving the economy from fiscal collapse, the decision has significantly blocked areas of leakages and waste in the economy, thereby leading to an increase in funding for the development of mega infrastructure.

Idris observed that the country is also experiencing steady investment in the provision of social services and increases in monthly allocations to state governments, which have enabled them to undertake projects that are already making transformative impacts across various sectors, from roads to schools, hospitals to agriculture, among others.

The minister further emphasised that the consistent implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s 8-point Renewed Hope Agenda has begun to produce positive results, as 900,000 Nigerians have already benefited from the Presidential Conditional Grant and Loan Scheme, which supports small businesses, traders, artisans, and young entrepreneurs.

In his words, “Over 300,000 students are currently benefiting from the unprecedented Students’ Loan Scheme, ensuring that no young Nigerian is denied access to higher education because of a lack of funds.”

He had earlier enumerated other gains and achievements of the Tinubu-led administration, including the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture to the tune of ₦1.5 trillion, which unlocks financing for farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, and the agro-industrial value chain.

He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not embark on his presidential campaign with lofty slogans but presented to Nigerians a well-thought-out Eight-Point Renewed Hope Agenda, which is a blueprint for economic revitalisation, national development, and inclusive growth.

In his remarks, the Governor of Niger State, Muhammad Umaru Bago, stated that across all APC-governed states, the country is experiencing a silent revolution—a coordinated wave of people-focused governance. Speaking from Lagos to Yobe, Ogun to Ebonyi, Delta to Jigawa, the Progressive Governors are not only united and strong but are delivering results that are measurable, inclusive, and future-oriented. Whether in education, health, agriculture, digital transformation, or infrastructure, the APC brand of governance is setting benchmarks nationwide.

Bago, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, said this progress must never be left to speak for itself. He added that in a world shaped by perception, platforms, and public discourse, strategic communication is the oxygen of sustainable leadership.

He added, “This is why your presence here as Honourable Commissioners for Information is not just significant, it is foundational. You are the stewards of our stories, the defenders of our truths, and the architects of the trust between government and citizens.

“Here in Niger State, we are building the ‘New Niger’—a development vision driven by bold reforms in agriculture, digitisation, urban renewal, and youth empowerment. However, we are also investing deliberately in narrative management—ensuring that our people not only see transformation but also understand it, own it, and sustain it.”

Bago suggested that the meeting must therefore not be another roundtable of ideas alone, but a crucible of collaboration, a space to refine the messaging frameworks, strengthen state-to-state coordination, and accelerate the implementation of our value reorientation campaign.

“Together, we must tell a unified story—one of service, integrity, and national renewal,” he said.

Also speaking, the Niger State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Binta Mamman, explained that Governor Bago has been using communication as a tool for development, accountability and mobilisation in the delivery of the New Niger Agenda.