Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, recently shared on his social media X channel that the Minister of Defense, Mohammed Badaru, has called on the organizers of the proposed nationwide protest to reconsider and engage in dialogue with the Federal Government. Minister Badaru emphasized that President Tinubu’s reforms are already yielding fruitful results, noting that the nation’s economy is on a gradual but steady path to recovery. He assured citizens that this administration is committed to meeting their needs.
According to the Minister, the reforms initiated by President Tinubu have begun to improve the lives of Nigerians. Notably, the economic growth in Q1 2024 was the second fastest first-quarter growth in the last six years. He highlighted that the defense strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda is also delivering results in improving security.
“There is significant improvement in security as many roads and highways previously closed due to insecurity have been reopened. The creation of the Livestock Ministry has resolved herder-farmer clashes, enabling many farmers to return to their farms. President Tinubu is supporting farmers and has encouraged state governors to do the same. Additionally, there is a massive surrender of terrorists, and high-profile terrorist kingpins have been arrested,” Badaru stated.
Another initiative by President Tinubu, according to the Minister, is the introduction of the Nigerian Student Loan Scheme, which aims to increase access to higher education and reduce the financial burden on students. Furthermore, the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) has significantly increased funding for infrastructure projects, including roads, railways, energy, and irrigation systems.
The Minister also praised the innovation of selling crude oil to indigenous refining companies in Naira and the signing of the National Minimum Wage Act into law, both aimed at stabilizing the economy and enhancing the welfare of Nigerian workers. He highlighted the autonomy granted to local governments, which is expected to improve accountability and development at the grassroots level.
Badaru noted that since the launch of the compressed natural gas (CNG) initiative by President Tinubu, transportation costs are expected to reduce by as much as 50 percent, unlocking the nation’s potential in the gas sector. CNG conversion centers are rapidly increasing across the country, creating job opportunities. The Federal Government has also made 30,000 kits available for the conversion of petrol-powered engines to CNG at no cost within the next 90 days. Additionally, the first batch of CNG mass transit buses procured by the Federal Government for distribution to the 36 states and the FCT has arrived.
While acknowledging the democratic right to protest, the Minister cautioned against using the protest to cause mayhem. He emphasized that the proposed August 1 protest is poorly timed given the positive economic turnaround.
Minister Badaru urged all stakeholders to recognize the significant strides being made and to come together for constructive dialogue to continue building a prosperous and stable nation.
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