The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, has called on Nigerians to suspend the ongoing nationwide ‘EndBadGovernance’ protests against the current government.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Lizzy Okoji, on Saturday in Abuja, the minister appealed for dialogue to address the challenges facing the country. The protests, which began on August 1 and are set to continue until August 10, were organized in response to widespread difficulties.
Shuaibu emphasized the need for trust in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which is diligently working to tackle these challenges. He highlighted the administration’s policies and strategic plans aimed at achieving economic prosperity, improving welfare, enhancing education, and strengthening health systems.
“The policies of the current administration are focused on driving Nigeria towards economic prosperity, improved social amenities, food security, and infrastructural development,” the minister stated.
He assured Nigerians that their aspirations for good governance would be realized before the end of the administration’s first tenure. He cited examples of the administration’s efforts, such as the implementation of a N70,000 minimum wage for workers and the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles to reduce transportation costs by at least 70 percent.
Additionally, the minister mentioned the disbursement of N50,000 uplift grants to over 100,000 families per state for three months, impacting nearly 5 million families nationwide. He also referred to measures aimed at reducing food prices within 180 days, as directed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari.
Audu noted the importation of 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and maize to supply small-scale processors and millers across the country. He also highlighted the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
“In the steel sector, ongoing reforms to revive our steel plants will create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs and attract Foreign Direct Investments,” he added.
The minister urged Nigerians to end the protests, citing their hijacking by miscreants causing mayhem and a breakdown of law and order. He commended the people of Kogi for opting for dialogue and collaborative efforts with the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led state government instead of participating in the protests.
