President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday passionately advised Nigerians especially the youth to jettison the idea of street protest over the current hardship in the country, saying that it is not necessary since his government was taking proactive interventionist steps to improve their standard of living.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris told State House correspondents at the presidential villa, Abuja that President Tinubu expressed this concern during a closed-door meeting with him.
According to the Minister, the President as a true democrat was in tune with the cries and worries of Nigerians and would do anything to bring succour to them.
The planned protest in the country, dubbed “10 days of rage,” is driven primarily by widespread dissatisfaction over soaring living costs and economic hardship.
Reports indicate also that other key grievances include the removal of fuel subsidies, increased electricity tariffs, and the devaluation of the naira, which have collectively worsened the financial strain on citizens.
Many Nigerians who plan to join the protest are demanding the reinstatement of subsidies, affordable electricity, and greater transparency in governance.
Speaking, the information Minister said, “We discussed the issue of the country generally and Mr President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them, especially the young people that are trying to protest.
“Mr President listens to them, he takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good not just for today but also for the future.”
He added “On the issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that, he asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas, he listens to them like I said.
“A lot is happening, only today the National Assembly has expeditiously passed the bill on National Minimum Wage.
“You can see how the President is working, it was transmitted only yesterday, today it has been passed a lot of other interventions that the President has also put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously in the interest of Nigerians so there is no need for a strike.
“The young people out there should listen to the President and allow the President more time to see to the realization of all the goodies he has for them”.
Idris also explained that growing concerns from Nigerians necessitated the Federal Government’s approval of grains and rice for state governments which was delivered to them expediously.
He said, “It is just the necessary first step, government is going to continue in that direction supporting them and assuring that whatever intervention the Federal Government has put in place will go to those that should benefit.
“The FG is looking at strategies that every intervention would go directly to those who benefit from those interventions, not middlemen intervention along the way.
“You heard about the student loan board launched by Mr President, Mr President is very passionate about that deepening that everyone that should go to work will have the opportunity to go to school. It is no longer a time for all of us to stay back and see our young able-bodied men and women having passed the examinations to go to tertiary institutions”.
