The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has called on Nigerians to suspend the nationwide protests against the current government, assuring citizens that President Bola Tinubu is diligently addressing the nation’s challenges.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, on Friday in Abuja, Audu urged protesters to exercise more patience and trust in President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’ He emphasized that the administration’s strategic plans and policies aim to drive Nigeria towards economic prosperity, improved welfare, education, and health systems, enhanced social amenities, food security, and infrastructural development.
Highlighting President Tinubu’s achievements in just over a year, Audu expressed confidence that Nigerians will see their expectations of good governance fulfilled before the end of the President’s first term.
“I appeal to my fellow Nigerians to suspend the nationwide protests against the current administration and instead resort to dialogue to address our concerns and expectations from the Tinubu-led administration. President Tinubu has shown his concern for the plight of Nigerians through recent initiatives like the N70,000 minimum wage for workers and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, which aims to reduce transportation costs by 70% following the fuel subsidy removal,” Audu stated.
He further noted the President’s responsive measures, including the disbursement of N50,000 uplift grants to over 100,000 families per state for three months, impacting nearly 5 million families nationwide. He also mentioned the strategic measures by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, to reduce food prices within 180 days, including the importation of 250,000 metric tonnes each of wheat and maize to support small-scale processors and millers.
Audu added that President Tinubu has directed the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, securing $2.5 million in financing for the National Primary Health Care to improve healthcare access.
The Minister assured that the Cabinet, under President Tinubu’s visionary leadership, is working relentlessly to implement policies that actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda for a better Nigeria. In the steel sector, ongoing reforms are expected to create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs and attract Foreign Direct Investments to grow and diversify the economy.
Audu also urged Nigerians to shun the protests, citing intelligence reports from security and law enforcement agencies indicating plans by miscreants to hijack the demonstrations and cause chaos across the country.
