Suspend Nationwide Protests, Minister Appeals To Nigerians

Shuaibu Audu, Minister of Steel Development, has urged Nigerians to cease their nationwide protests against the current government, assuring citizens that President Bola Tinubu is working tirelessly to address the country’s current difficulties.

Audu made the request in a statement issued by his Special Assistant Media, Lizzy Okoji, on Friday in Abuja.

He advised folks to be more patient and trust President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.

According to him, the current administration’s policies include strategic plans and policies that, if implemented, will propel Nigeria to economic prosperity, improved welfare, education and health systems, improved social amenities, food security, and infrastructure development, among other things.

While outlining President Tinubu’s accomplishments in just over a year in office, he assured Nigerians that all of their expectations for good administration would be met before the president’s first term ends.

I would want to urge to my fellow Nigerians to please pause the nationwide protests against the current administration and allow us to engage in dialogue to resolve all of our concerns and expectations from President Tinubu’s administration.

Mr. President has repeatedly demonstrated his concern for Nigerians’ plight, including the recent implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for workers and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative with CNG vehicles to mitigate the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies, which will reduce transportation costs by at least 70%.

“In response to the challenges of the masses in the face of ongoing reforms, President Tinubu directed the release of N50,000 uplift grants to over 100,000 families each state for three months, affecting close to 5 million families countrywide.

My colleague, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has assured Nigerians that food prices will fall in 180 days, and strategic measures to address the nation’s high food prices are currently being implemented. 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tonnes of maize are being imported, with these semi-processed commodities being distributed to small-scale processors and millers across the country.

“Additionally, to boost the health sector, Mr. President directed the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which drew $2.5 million in funding for National Primary Health Care, allowing citizens to have better access to healthcare.

Under Mr. President’s visionary leadership in all sectors, I and my Cabinet colleagues have been working tirelessly to implement various policies within our separate mandates to realize the Renewed Hope Agenda and make Nigeria a better place for everyone. Many of these projects have already come to light.

In the steel sector, current reforms to restore our steel factories will produce over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, while we seek Foreign Direct Investment to grow and diversify the economy,” Prince Audu said.

The minister also urged Nigerians to avoid the demonstration after intelligence assessments from security and law enforcement agencies revealed that miscreants planned to hijack it in order to cause mayhem and a breakdown in law and order across the country.