Tinubu Has Achieved  More Than Obasanjo, Yar’Adua – Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, stated boldly and confidently that President Bola Tinubu’s two-year administration has outperformed those of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Speaking at the 2025 Voice of Nigeria (VON) Forum in Abuja, the Minister said the evidence is not just in the numbers but in the visible and far-reaching impact of Tinubu’s policies and projects. 

According to him, the administration has managed to tackle long-standing issues that others either ignored or avoided entirely.

One of the standout decisions was the controversial removal of fuel subsidy, an economic landmine many of Tinubu’s predecessors, including Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, were reluctant to touch. 

Alongside this, the administration dismantled a deeply entrenched foreign exchange racket, signaling a push toward greater transparency and fiscal discipline.

But it’s not just about policy shifts. Infrastructure is also a big part of the story. The commissioning of the first 30-kilometre stretch of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway marks a significant milestone in national connectivity. 

Tinubu’s administration also greenlit the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, a route that cuts across 17 states, an effort the minister describes as both symbolic and strategic in uniting the country. 

Along this corridor, 73 dams are planned, which are expected to boost agriculture and electricity generation, two sectors critical to Nigeria’s future.

The Minister also pointed to new initiatives that address real needs: a functioning student loan system, a consumer credit corporation, a major push for compressed natural gas (through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas), and a fresh tax reform bill aimed at making the system more efficient and inclusive.

Idris did not shy away from acknowledging the early difficulties Tinubu faced, describing the beginning of his tenure as “rough and challenging.” However, he insists that the country is now on a path to recovery, especially with signs of food prices beginning to drop and security gradually improving.

He gave examples like the Kaduna highway once feared by travelers due to rampant insecurity now being used with greater confidence. 

While acknowledging that the country is not yet free of its troubles, he praised the security agencies for their improved coordination and dedication, urging the media to play a more supportive and patriotic role in national development.

In his view, Tinubu has also made bold institutional moves, such as implementing local government autonomy and creating the Ministries of Regional Development and Livestock Development. 

These, he says, are part of a broader vision to decentralize progress and harness untapped sectors like livestock, which has the potential to generate trillions in revenue for the country.

While critics may argue that two years is too short to measure success, Idris believes Tinubu has already achieved what past administrations couldn’t or wouldn’t do. Whether it’s bold reforms, massive infrastructure, or security coordination, the Minister is convinced: Tinubu is not just ticking boxes, he’s setting new standards.

And if the remaining two years of his first term follow this pace, comparisons to previous presidents like Obasanjo and Yar’Adua may no longer be a matter of debate, but fact.