The Federal Government has explained that the planned relocation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was a pragmatic administrative step to improve operational efficiency and reduce operating costs.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alh Mohammed Idris, he said the planned relocation were not political moves aimed at marginalizing any section of the country.
He urge all Nigerians to be mindful of all persons and groups at home and abroad, who specialize in making false and inciting claims on radio, TV and social media, as well as in peddling altered videos and images for viral dissemination.
He said as part of the focus on earning the trust of Nigerians, the fight against corruption will continue, and will intensify.
According to him, the government was determined to ensure that there were no sacred cows and public funds were applied wholly for the public good, hence, President Bola Tinubu was providing the anti-corruption agencies with the support required to fulfill their mandate.
Idris said “the opening weeks of 2024, our Stock Market has already put us on the global map for the impressive returns being delivered. The Indian businesses that pledged $14 billion in new investment in Nigeria on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in India in September 2023 have since started making good on those pledges. Across oil and gas, agriculture, consumer goods, renewable energy, healthcare, ICT and many other fields we are seeing global and local businesses demonstrating unshakable belief in the limitless possibilities that Nigeria embodies.”
According to him, on security, all threats were being confronted as the Government were taking the fight to the criminals’ dens, with promising results, noting that in the last week, several bandits, kidnappers and militants have been neutralized or arrested.
He said the “heartwarming exploits of our beloved Super Eagles at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire are another case in point; a timely reminder that the things that bind us together as one are much deeper than the things that separate and divide us.”
Idris appealed that the resurgent crisis in Plateau State was regrettable and all perpetrators of violence there, and everywhere else in the country, were being brought to book.
“Justice will be done, and peace will be restored in all affected communities. We salute the gallantry of security and intelligence agencies who are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we are safe in our homes and on the highways, and that criminals have no breathing space,” he said.
On the economy, Idris said all relevant Ministries and Agencies of the Federal Government were working in coordinated fashion, to bring down inflation, stabilize foreign exchange rates, and create a truly enabling environment for business and investment.
He said the government has rolled out impactful interventions including a Students’ Loan Scheme, a Presidential Initiative to deploy lower-cost CNG mass transit buses to provide alternatives to petrol and diesel, and various low-interest loan schemes for businesses.