The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has freed up financial resources, enabling state governments to embark on more people-oriented projects across the country.
The Minister made the remark while leading Commissioners of Information from APC-governed states on an inspection tour of federal and state projects in Borno State, held on the sidelines of their Quarterly Strategic Meeting in Maiduguri.
“The reform agenda of Mr. President is working. It’s putting resources into the coffers of the subnationals so that they can use it to work for the people,” Idris stated.
During the visit, the team inspected several landmark projects, including the University of Maiduguri 12MW Hybrid Solar Plant, developed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with World Bank support.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Mohammed Mele, explained that the plant adequately meets the energy needs of the university and its teaching hospital, adding that the facility has saved the institution ₦170 million monthly in electricity payments.
The delegation also toured the 50MW Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, which was commissioned under the Buhari administration and later ramped up to full capacity by the Tinubu government. The plant now provides steady electricity to households and businesses across the city and its environs.
Highlighting Borno State’s achievements, the Minister commended the Governor Babagana Umara Zulum-led administration for investing massively in education. He noted that the state government has constructed 104 mega schools across the three senatorial districts, with 35 more currently under construction.
At one of the newly completed schools named after President Bola Tinubu, Idris lauded the governor for putting the state’s increased allocation to effective use.
“This is what the synergy between the federal government and the subnationals can do,” the Minister said, describing the projects as evidence of productive collaboration between the Tinubu administration and state governments.
The team also inspected the soon-to-be-commissioned Borno Express Terminus Flyover, the fourth flyover constructed by the state government within one year, as well as the Herwa Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station — one of seven facilities established by the Borno State Government with support from the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
According to Idris, the EV initiative aligns with the federal government’s clean energy and renewable transition agenda, aimed at promoting sustainable mobility across the country.
The inspection tour further took the team to the international wing of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, where work is steadily progressing. President Tinubu had earlier approved the airport’s upgrade to international status in March 2025, making it the only international airport in the North-East geopolitical zone.