The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the government “change agenda is real and Nigerians will get the change they voted for’’.
The minister stated this at a meeting with the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) on Thursday in Lagos
He said the administration had been keeping its campaign promises which centred on three broad areas – tackling corruption, ensuring the security of lives and property and the economy-.
“This Administration has been working round the clock to provide good governance and put the country on a sound footing, economically, socially and otherwise.
“We know that the past few months have been challenging for Nigerians. We are working hard to ease their pains”
Mohammed said that the administration had designed strategy to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
He said the strategy would be carried out through six social intervention areas that would greatly impact on the economy as well as on lives:
He said that 500,000 graduates would be employed and trained as teachers while 370,000 non-graduates (artisans, technicians) would be trained and employed
The minister said that one million people (Farmers, market women, etc) would be granted loans to set up small businesses.
He said Conditional Cash Transfer would be made available to the most vulnerable people (not unemployed graduates) while school feeding would target 4.5 million school children
Mohammed said bursaries scholarships would also be provided for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics students
On security, the minister said that Boko Haram had been defeated through committed and purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The insurgents have lost their capacity to carry out the kind of spectacular attacks for which they became infamous. This did not happen by accident.
“It was the result of purposeful, credible and courageous leadership being provided by the President who started off by ordering the relocation of the command and control.centre of the battle against insurgency from Abuja to Maiduguri.
“He also rallied regional and global support for Nigeria’s efforts and boosted the morale and fighting capability of armed troops,’’ he said.
Ministers of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh and Environmentm Amina Mohammed were at the event and they gave accounts of the activities of their ministries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was anchored by the President of NPAN and the Chairman of ThisDay Newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena.
The General Secretary of the association, Dame Comfort Obi and its two life patrons, Sam Amuka and Alhaji Isma’ila Isa Funtua were also in attendance.
Managing Directors of and Chief Executive Officers of print media were also at the meeting.
In a closing remark, Mr Ray Ekpu, who spoke on behalf of others, said the gathering was informative about the activities of government.
He said there the meeting offered the opportunity for a good exchange of views and he expressed the hope that it would be sustained.