By Jeremy Fregene
The Federal Government has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully focused on delivering his administration’s Reformed Hope Agenda and is not distracted by emerging opposition coalitions or political noise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said the administration is aware of the rise of political groupings and their attempt to challenge the President in 2027, but insisted that Tinubu remains resolute and committed to driving economic reforms, improving national security, and enhancing the welfare of Nigerians.
The minister’s statement comes in the wake of criticism from prominent figures, including Senator Seriake Dickson, who recently raised concerns on the floor of the Senate over the slow implementation of the capital component of the 2024 national budget. Dickson, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, lamented that contractors who have completed their work have not been paid and that ordinary Nigerians are yet to feel the benefits of the budget.
“Government has grounded, that’s what it means,” the Senator said. “Contractors who have done their jobs and committed their resources cannot be paid. The benefits of the budget that we all took time to work on and passed have not gotten to the people.”
Responding to such criticisms, the Federal Government reaffirmed its focus on delivering impactful governance, insisting that the distractions from political coalitions will not derail the administration’s reform agenda. “The administration of President Tinubu recognizes and affirms the constitutional rights of all Nigerians to free association and expression,” Idris said. However, the President will not be sidetracked by political antics or opposition media theatrics, he emphasised.
He added that the so-called opposition coalition is a predictable feature of Nigeria’s democratic landscape, especially as elections draw closer, but noted that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is already delivering results. According to him, the administration has made progress in tackling crude oil theft, restoring investor confidence in the oil and gas sector, stabilizing the naira, and reducing inflation.
Idris highlighted other key milestones achieved in the past two years, including improved national security efforts and direct support to Nigerian households, students, artisans, and small business owners through initiatives like the student loan programme and consumer credit schemes. He also pointed to the government’s push for widespread Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle conversion and enhanced infrastructure development as part of its broader economic recovery plan.
The minister cited President Tinubu’s recent signing of four major tax reform bills into law as a significant turning point, describing it as one of the most ambitious fiscal transformations in the nation’s history. The reforms, set to take effect in 2026, are expected to enhance economic competitiveness and boost prosperity for both households and businesses.
In addition, Idris noted that the administration has launched the country’s most extensive agricultural mechanisation drive through the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, aimed at strengthening food security and boosting local productivity.
He maintained that the government is fully aware that some elements within the political space are uncomfortable with the pace and scope of the reforms. “These emerging coalitions and opposition forces appear more interested in derailing the nation’s progress than offering any real alternative,” he said. “But the Tinubu administration remains undeterred, focused, and committed to building a more secure, prosperous, and resilient Nigeria for all.”