Minister Seeks Suspension of Hunger Protest
The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has appealed to Nigerians to suspend the nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria against hunger and poverty.
Audu made the call in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Lizzy Okoji, on Saturday in Abuja.
The protest, which commenced on August 1 and is expected to end by August 10, was organized in response to the challenges being faced in the country. The minister urged Nigerians to embrace dialogue in addressing their concerns regarding the difficulties in the nation.
He also asked citizens to trust President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he assured is working diligently to address the country’s challenges.
Audu highlighted the policies and strategic plans aimed at driving Nigeria towards economic prosperity, improved welfare, quality education, and strengthened health systems.
“The policies of the current administration are focused on improving social amenities, food security, and infrastructural development,” he stated, adding that these efforts would ensure good governance is achieved before the end of the administration’s first tenure.
Audu cited several initiatives as evidence of the government’s commitment to alleviating the people’s suffering.
These include the implementation of a N70,000 minimum wage for workers, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative to reduce transportation costs, and the disbursement of N50,000 uplift grants to over 100,000 families per state for three months, impacting close to 5 million families nationwide.
“My colleague, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, with the directive of Mr. President, has assured Nigerians that food prices will crash in 180 days,” he added. Audu also mentioned the importation of 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and maize to support small-scale processors and millers.
In the health sector, President Tinubu has directed the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to facilitate access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
Audu also highlighted ongoing reforms in the steel sector aimed at reviving steel plants, which are expected to create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs while attracting Foreign Direct Investments to diversify the economy.
The minister appealed to Nigerians to end the protest, noting that it has been hijacked by miscreants causing mayhem and a breakdown of law and order across the country.
He commended the people of Kogi for not participating in the protest, opting instead for dialogue and collaborative efforts with the All Progressive Congress-led government of the state.
