From N8.9 Billion to N1.5 Trillion? Senator Akpoti's Bold Call to Revamp Nigeria's Information Ministry Budget

By Achimi muktar

In a dramatic turn during the 2025 budget defense in Abuja, the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation firmly rejected the Ministry of Information and National Orientation’s proposed N8.9 billion budget. The committee's chairman, Emeka Eze, minced no words, describing the budget as "grossly inadequate" for the ministry's critical mandate in a country of over 200 million people.

While Eze emphasized the need for a broader discussion involving the Minister of Budget and National Planning to address this glaring shortfall, it was Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bold recommendation that truly stole the spotlight. Representing Kogi Central, Akpoti made an audacious pitch to increase the ministry’s budget from N8.9 billion to a staggering N1.5 trillion.

"Budgeting N8.9 billion for the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is nothing short of a child’s play," Akpoti declared, drawing attention to South Africa's equivalent ministry, which operates with a 2024 budget of R5.1 billion—about N409 billion—for a population of just 50 million. By comparison, she argued, Nigeria’s budget is grossly underwhelming and fails to meet the needs of its vast and diverse population.

Akpoti warned of dire consequences if the ministry is not equipped to reorient Nigeria’s youth, many of whom, she lamented, now see rituals or internet fraud ("Yahoo") as the quickest routes to wealth. She called for a paradigm shift in the nation’s approach to youth engagement, urging the ministry to prioritize programs that instill patriotism and self-worth among young Nigerians.

“We are handling one crisis after another—whether it’s religious, ethnic, or even gender-related,” Akpoti noted. “Budgeting below nine billion naira to address such issues and reorient our people is simply unacceptable.”

Akpoti’s vision includes the establishment of a dedicated directorate within the ministry to address the mindset and aspirations of young Nigerians. She believes this is critical for fostering a sense of national pride and reducing divisive tendencies.

As the Senate committee awaits further deliberations with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Akpoti’s call for a tenfold increase in the ministry’s funding has sparked nationwide debate. Will Nigeria’s leaders heed her call to action, or will the ministry be left to struggle with an insufficient budget?

One thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher for a ministry tasked with shaping the nation’s narrative and inspiring its people.