Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing the economic hardship faced by citizens, despite planned nationwide protests.
Speaking at a press conference hosted by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Abuja, Olawande acknowledged the challenges faced by Nigerians but expressed confidence in the President’s ability to tackle them.
He highlighted the government’s achievements, including a 130% increment in minimum wage, a reduction of the review period for minimum wage from five to three years, and its passage by the National Assembly.
Olawande urged citizens to be realistic and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the government, cautioning against using social media to destabilize the country.
He also appealed to Nigerians to work with the government to address the challenges facing the nation.
Olawande said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria. He has taken decisions, I can tell you, the love you can have for yourself is not because you are PDP, you are APC, you are PDMP, you are whatever. We need to stop that love and love this country first.
“We know you have the can-do spirit. We are begging and pleading with you to work with us. And we are saying there are a lot of things to enjoy in this government.
“The president has opened up every sector, and we are listening to your concerns. The greatest problem we have, which we are not shy of, is that there is a lot of unemployment. And let’s be realistic with ourselves. Everybody can not be a civil servant.
“We are appealing to everybody that we are sure this country is in safe hands. We should not allow political people, political supporters’ to tell us things that are not correct.
“You have the right, but we are saying that it is time for us to know the value to make our research, to talk to ourselves and sit down and let us know where these things are affecting us and have a roundtable with the government. This is a listening government.”
Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Mr. Bala Ahmed, also recognized the challenges faced by Nigerians but urged caution and patience.
Ahmed, who was represented by Zack Oji, emphasized the importance of unity and solidarity in overcoming adversity and building a better Nigeria.
Ahmed highlighted several policies and executive orders implemented by the Tinubu administration, including the approval of 10 billion naira for CNG buses, N35 billion student loan, and suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for food commodities.
“From the perspective of Renewed Hope Ambassadors and other stakeholders, this planned protest from unknown people poses significant risks across Nigeria. We urge citizens to consider these consequences and seek more constructive avenues for change,” he said.
The Renewed Hope Ambassadors also launched “The Jagaban Will Fix It Nigeria Project,” aimed at addressing concerns through town hall meetings and capacity-building initiatives for young people and informal sectors in rural areas.
