The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has urged Nigerians to suspend the nationwide protests against the current government, assuring that President Bola Tinubu is diligently addressing the country’s challenges. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, on Friday in Abuja, Audu called for patience and trust in President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
Audu emphasized that the administration’s policies include strategic plans aimed at achieving economic prosperity, improved welfare, education and health systems, enhanced social amenities, food security, and infrastructural development. He highlighted President Tinubu’s achievements in just over a year, assuring that the expectations of good governance would be met by the end of the president’s first term.
“I appeal to my fellow Nigerians to suspend the nationwide protests and resort to dialogue to address our concerns and expectations from the President Tinubu-led administration,” Audu stated.
He pointed to several measures taken by President Tinubu, including the recent implementation of a N70,000 minimum wage for workers and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, which aims to reduce transportation costs by at least 70 percent. Additionally, President Tinubu has directed the disbursement of N50,000 uplift grants to over 100,000 families per state for three months, impacting nearly 5 million families nationwide.
Audu also mentioned efforts by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, to address high food prices, with strategic measures expected to reduce prices within 180 days. This includes the importation of 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and maize to be supplied to small-scale processors and millers.
To strengthen the health sector, President Tinubu has ordered the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, attracting $2.5 million in financing for National Primary Health Care to ensure better healthcare access.
Audu highlighted ongoing reforms in the steel sector, which aim to revive steel plants and create over 500,000 jobs, as well as attract Foreign Direct Investments to diversify the economy.
He further appealed to Nigerians to avoid protests due to intelligence reports from security and law enforcement agencies indicating that miscreants plan to hijack the demonstrations to cause chaos and disrupt law and order.
