In a heartfelt plea, the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has called on Nigerians to pause their nationwide protests labeled ‘Endbadgovernace’ against the current administration.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Lizzy Okoji, on Saturday in Abuja, Mr. Audu expressed his concerns regarding the protests that began on August 1 and are scheduled to conclude on August 10. These protests were initiated in response to the economic hardships currently plaguing the country.
The minister emphasized the importance of dialogue to address the grievances of the citizens. He urged the public to have faith in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which is diligently working to tackle the country’s pressing issues.
He elaborated that the government’s policies and strategic plans are designed to steer Nigeria towards economic growth, enhanced welfare, improved education, and strengthened healthcare systems. Additionally, he highlighted initiatives aimed at enhancing social infrastructure, ensuring food security, and promoting infrastructural development.
Audu reassured Nigerians that their aspirations for good governance would be realized by the conclusion of the current administration’s first term. He stated, “President Tinubu has repeatedly demonstrated his concern for the wellbeing of Nigerians, as seen with the recent implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for workers.
The administration is also promoting the Compressed Natural Gas initiative with CNG vehicles to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal, which is projected to reduce transportation costs by at least 70%.”
In light of the ongoing reforms affecting the population, President Tinubu has also instructed the distribution of N50,000 uplift grants to over 100,000 families per state for three months, aiming to assist nearly 5 million families nationwide.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has assured the public that food prices will significantly decrease within 180 days, as part of strategic initiatives to combat soaring food costs.
Mr. Audu mentioned the importation of 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and maize, which will be allocated to small-scale processors and millers across the country.
In efforts to bolster the health sector, the President has directed a redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to enhance access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
He concluded by stating that the ongoing reforms in the steel industry are expected to generate over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs while attracting foreign investments to diversify the economy.
In light of the protests, the minister urged citizens to cease their demonstrations, citing concerns that they have been hijacked by miscreants causing chaos and disrupting law and order throughout the nation.
