By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu has appealed to Nigerians to suspend the nationwide protests against the current government, assuring citizens that President Bola Tinubu is working assiduously to fix the current challenges of the country.
Audu appealed to citizens in a statement issued by his Special Assistant Media, Lizzy Okoji, on Friday in Abuja.
He urged protesters to have more patience and trust the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Tinubu.
According to him, the policies of the current administration encompass strategic plans and policies, that will drive Nigeria to economic prosperity, improved welfare, education and health systems, improved social amenities, food security, and infrastructural development, amongst many other needs when implemented.
While highlighting the achievements of President Tinubu in just over one year in office, he assured that Nigerians will get all their expectations of good governance before the end of the first tenure of the president.
“I want to appeal to my fellow Nigerians to please suspend the nationwide protests against the current administration and let us resort to dialogue to address all our concerns and expectations from the President Tinubu-led administration.
“Mr President has shown countless times his concern for the plight of Nigerians, with the recent implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for workers, driving the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative with CNG vehicles to cushion the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy which will reduce the cost of transportation by at least 70 per cent.
“Responsive to the challenges of the masses in the face of the ongoing reforms, President Tinubu directed the disbursement of N50,000 uplift grants each to over 100,000 families per state for three months thereby impacting close to 5 million families nationwide. My colleague, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, under the direction of Mr President, has assured Nigerians that food prices will crash in 180 days, with strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting the nation currently being implemented. 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 250,000 metric tonnes of maize is being imported, and these semi-processed commodities will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country.
Additionally, strengthening the health sector, Mr. President has directed the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which attracted $2.5 dollars in financing for the National Primary Health Care so that citizens could have access to better healthcare.
“I and my colleagues at the Cabinet level, under the visionary leadership of Mr President across all sectors, have been working relentlessly to implement various policies within our respective mandates for the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda so as to facilitate a better Nigeria for all. Many of these projects have already come to light.
“In the steel sector, the ongoing reforms to revive our steel plants will create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, while we attract Foreign Direct Investments as a means of growing and diversifying the economy,” Prince Audu stated.
The minister further appealed to Nigerians, to shun the protest following intelligence reports from security and law enforcement agencies, of miscreants with plans to hijack the protest to cause mayhem and breakdown of law and order across the country.