Minister urges Nigerians to suspend nationwide protest

Prince Shuaibu Audu, Minister of Steel Development, has appealed to Nigerians to suspend the ongoing nationwide protest against the current government, tagged 'Endbadgovernance', and instead engage in dialogue to address their concerns.

Recall that the protest, which commenced on August 1, was organised in response to the challenges being faced in the country, and it is expected to end on August 10.

In a statement on Saturday, Audu expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu's administration, assuring that its policies and strategic plans are aimed at driving economic prosperity, improved welfare, and infrastructure development, among others. 

He assured Nigerians that their desire for good governance would be achieved before the end of the administration's first tenure.

“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.

“In response 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.

“This will impact close to 5,000,000 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.

“These are strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting the nation being implemented,” he said.