By Yunusa Isa, Gombe
The Minister of Information and National Orientation Muhammad Idris has identified some democratic gains of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in Northeast to include improved security, infrastructure development and system reforms.
The minister made this know when the ministry convened a town hall meeting at the Federal Secretariat Gombe, on President Tinubu’s midterm scores themed “Tinubu Administration’s Midterm Report”.
While unveiling the administration’s midterm report, Muhammad Idris represented by the Head, Federal Information Centre Gombe Mr Abdulkareem Adamu Bello, said “Today’s meeting provides an invaluable platform to measure progress and chart new pathways for advancement. The Tinubu administration has demonstrated true commitment to security interventions, restored peace to our communities, and prioritized infrastructure development in the Northeast in its vision for stronger and more prosperous Nigeria,”
He assured Nigerians of President Tinubu’s commitment to quality service delivery and sustained engagement with citizens on government programs and policies.
Similarly, the Gombe State Commissioner Ministry of Information and Ethical Orientation Mijinyawa Ardo Tilde described the town hall as a vital platform for collective reflection and progress assessment.
In his presentation the Senior Special Adviser to Gombe State Governor on Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDICE) Program Saifullahi Waziri, acknowledged the economic hardship facing Nigerians but maintained that President Tinubu’s reforms are designed to deliver long-term benefits.
“Even though we are in a period of hardship, the government is doing a lot. The reforms put in place will stimulate the system to be fully alive. Unlike in the past when interventions failed to yield results, this administration is introducing transformative policies. Already, we are seeing food prices stabilizing, and if Nigerians view government efforts with a wider lens, they will notice the positive changes,” Waziri said.
On security in the North-Eastern states, the Focal Person Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDICE) Program Comrade Sulaiman Abdul-Malik emphasized that security has significantly improved compared to previous years of insurgency, while infrastructure and development projects are also expanding across the region.
“There were times you couldn’t visit some local governments or attend mosques or churches freely, but most of those days are now history. Tinubu’s educational initiatives have brought back out-of-school children, while road and power projects like Dadinkowa Dam are functional. The re-awarding of the railway line contract from Maiduguri to Port Harcourt is another major boost. More should be expected because the trajectory is on the positive side,” he explained.
Mr. Sulaiman further noted that though Nigerians are still grappling with the effects of fuel subsidy removal, reinvestments in agriculture, health, and education are already yielding results.
“What brought us here is to talk about the midterm and the successes of this government. In subsequent terms, Nigerians should know that this administration doesn’t just award contracts and go to sleep. There is a feedback mechanism in place. This town hall itself is one such mechanism to ensure that government projects are not neglected. From time to time, contracts will be visited, whether it is the Numan-Jalingo road or the Gombe-Bauchi road. These projects are being observed and monitored,” he added.
Other speakers at the event called on Nigerians to support the policies of the present administration while urging citizens of the Northeast to actively participate in the ongoing INEC voter registration exercise.
“So on this note, I wish to call on all of us to please mobilize our people to come out and vote. And they cannot do that unless they register and get a voter’s card,” one of the speakers stressed.
The gathering brought together traditional rulers, security agencies, youth groups, and women representatives, who reflected on the achievements, challenges, and policy directions of the Federal Government.
The town hall meeting concluded with renewed calls for unity, patriotism, and continued support for Government policies as Nigeria navigates its current challenges toward stability and growth.