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The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has said there is nothing wrong with Nigeria borrowing money to finance some of its projects.
Alhaji Idris stated this in Umuahia, Abia State, during a parley with newsmen after attending the 2026 South-East Summit organised by the Federal Government and hosted by the Abia State Government.
The minister disclosed that no nation in the world is free from borrowing money, adding that even the United States of America still borrows.
Alhaji Idris, while insisting that there is nothing wrong with the country borrowing, however, said what is wrong is when the money borrowed is not properly utilised.
“The United States of America (USA) still borrows money, there is nothing wrong in borrowing, but what is wrong is when the money borrowed is not properly applied.”
He stated that Nigeria’s economy was in a comatose state before the coming of President Bola Tinubu to power, to the point that many states were unable to pay salaries.
Alhaji Idris said all that had changed, as state governments now not only pay salaries but also embark on major projects, courtesy of the freeing up of the economy by the Tinubu administration through the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic policies.
He stated that President Tinubu inherited numerous challenges when he assumed office, so much so that many states could not pay salaries, adding that the situation has now changed.
“Many states could not pay salaries then, but that has changed, states now have a lot of resources to not only pay salaries, but also to engage in monumental projects.
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“It would have been difficult for any Governor to do any meaningful thing in his state without the economic policies put up by the Tinubu administration that has ensured enormous funds going to them.”
Commenting on the just concluded South-East Security Summit held in Umuahia, the minister said it was a significant platform that brought many stakeholders together to find ways to tackle insecurity in the South-East.
He said security is not the responsibility of only the government and security agencies, adding that the security challenges in the South-East require collaborative efforts.
Idris disclosed that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu places security as a top priority, stressing that what happened in Oyo was a masterclass in rescue operations.
“President Tinubu has vowed no person in Nigeria will be taken by criminal elements, he wants to live in peace.”
Idris stated that the security summit, which will be held in all geopolitical zones of the country, will ensure collaborative engagement to find a lasting solution for a prosperous Nigeria.
Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, commended the minister for coming to Abia and finding time to meet with journalists.
He called for synergy between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government in the area of information management.
