‘Through TSA, over N2trn has been accrued so far’ – Lai Mohammed

Despite the numerous accusations that the All Progressives Congress-led federal government is yet to deliver on its change promise, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari has performed creditably well in implementing its change agenda.
Mohammed said this while speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) in Kuru, Plateau State, on the topic: “The Change Agenda: The Journey so far”.
He stated that: “As far as our Change Agenda is concerned, the journey so far has been good, and it will definitely get better as we progress.”
“We have faced and tackled, with sincerity and courage, both anticipated and unanticipated challenges. Our major security nightmare, Boko Haram, is fast giving way to a sweet dream, while we have not shied away from taking on other security challenges.”
“We are winning the war against corruption, even as corruption fights back fast and furious. We are committed to diversifying our economy away from oil, while plugging all financial leakages. Our President is working night and day to make our country a respected member of the comity of nations, once again.”
Mohammed said that the Buhari administration have tackled the Boko Haram insurgence and that the activities of the sect have been degraded.
“Today, the President’s efforts have paid off. Boko Haram has been massively degraded and it is gradually moving away from the front pages. The insurgents have lost their capacity to carry out the kind of spectacular attacks for which they became infamous.”
“This did not happen by accident. It was the result of purposeful, credible and courageous leadership being provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, who started off by ordering the relocation of the command and control centre of the battle against insurgency from Abuja to Maiduguri, rallied regional and global support for Nigeria’s efforts and boosted the morale and fighting capability of armed troops.”
On corruption, the Minister noted that: “It was corruption that prolonged the war against Boko Haram and dispatched many soldiers and civilians to their early graves; It was corruption that ensured that while oil was selling for over 100 dollars per barrel, we had nothing to show for the windfall.”
“It is because of corruption that even though our budget has increased from less than a trillion in 1999 to over 6 trillion in 2016, poverty has grown almost at the same rate that the budget has increased; It was corruption that gave us darkness, instead of light, while we supposedly pumped millions of dollars into the power sector.”
He further stated that the presidency was “working assiduously to diversify our economy away from oil.”
“Agriculture, Solid Minerals, Culture and Tourism are some of the sectors we are currently working to rejuvenate so they can earn huge revenues for the country and create jobs. While these efforts are on, the administration has decided to plug all financial loopholes through the Treasury Singles Account (TSA), into which over two trillion Naira has accrued so far.”
“Funds that ordinarily would have gone into private pockets are now finding their way into the public treasury, to be used for the benefit of all. Also, thanks to the measures introduced by this Administration to plug all loopholes, we have discovered 23,000 ghost workers who have now been expunged from the system.”
He also defended the frequent travels of President Buhari, saying it was necessary if Nigeria is to change her international image, attract investors and get support in the war against terrorism.