The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, has called on Niger residents to support the reform programmes of President Bola Tinubu.
Mohammed said that the programmes were aimed at repositioning the country for a brighter future and to make it take it rightful place in the comity of nations.
He said this at a programme tagged “Sensitising the Citizenry on Federal Government Intervention Programmes at the states and Local Government Levels”, in Minna on Thursday.
Idris, represented by Hajiya Asabe Garba, Head Federal Information Resource Center, Minna, said the event was to make residents appreciate Tinubu’s intervention programmes designed to ease impact of the policies.
“These policies include the removal of fuel subsidy, the president is not blind to its impact on the citizens, these policies are geared toward a better future for our country,” he said.
He listed some of the interventions to include the disbursement of about N2.9 billion interest free students loan to tertiary institutions and monthly upkeep for 27,667 students by the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.
Others are the consumer credit, the compressed natural gas initiative, digital creative enterprise programme, skill-up artisans programme and the national Youth talent export programme.
They also include the housing initiatives, nano business support, and the nigerian youth academy and micro and small business loans.
The minister said others were providing relief to 10,000 youths of the Niger Delta Region to help them attain desired skills and work experience through the NDDC Youth Empowerment Internship scheme.
He noted that the programmes were key to promoting economic growth, creating job opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for every Nigerian.
He said that the Federal government had strengthened national security for peace, boost agriculture to achieve food security and improve governance for service delivery.
Idris encouraged participants to engage actively in the discussion by sharing their perspectives and contribute meaningfully towards the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a presentation, Alhaji Yahaya Gbongbo, state Director of National Orientation Agency, said Nigerians should explore those interventions that are already benefiting the poor such as the students loan.
In his remarks, Mr Abu Nmodu, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Niger, said communication gap was responsible for spread of fake news regarding governments developmental policies and programmes.
Nmodu said that adequate and timely dissemination of information would tame the menace of fake news that poses a threat to national security and development
