President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he is aware of frustrations of Nigerians and discomfort which the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange system brought to individuals, families and businesses across the country.
In his New Year broadcast today, he said the country would come out of this current challenging situation with equal resolution from the citizenry to become better stakeholders in the Nigeria project.
He said some difficult and yet necessary decisions taken by his administration over the past seven months were to save our country from fiscal catastrophe.
He said: “I am well aware that for some time now the conversations and debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation which is now above 28% and the unacceptable high under-employment rate.
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“From the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families.
“I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope.
“Dear compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter. The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria.
“Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for the good of our beloved nation. Our situation should make us resolve that this New Year 2024, each and every one of us will commit to be better citizens.”
The president said his government would work “diligently to make sure every Nigerian feels the impact of their government.”
He also said the economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected.
“It is in this spirit that we are going to implement a new national living wage for our industrious workers this New Year. It is not only good economics to do this, it is also a morally and politically correct thing to do,” he added.
On security, he said government had worked to free captives from abductors “silently”, adding that “While we can’t beat our chest yet that we had solved all the security problems, we are working hard to ensure that we all have peace of mind in our homes, places of work and on the roads.”
He said having laid the groundwork of our economic recovery plans within the last seven months of 2023, his administration was poised to accelerate the pace of service delivery across sectors.
“In 2024, we are moving a step further in our quest to restart local refining of petroleum products with Port Harcourt Refinery, and the Dangote Refinery which shall fully come on stream,” he stated.
He said ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, the government would step up its plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across Nigeria to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops.
Tinubu said his administration would race against time to ensure all the fiscal and tax policies reforms needed were put in place, codified and simplified to ensure the business environment did not destroy value.
He said his government would work to give every Nigerian equal opportunity to strive and to thrive.
“For the new year to yield all its good benefits to us as individuals and collectively as a people, we must be prepared to play our part. The job of building a prosperous nation is not the job of the president, governors, ministers, lawmakers and government officials alone.
“In this new year, let us resolve that as joint-heirs to the Nigerian Commonwealth, we will work for the peace, progress and stability of our country. I extend this call to my political opponents in the last election. Election is over. It’s time for all of us to work together for the sake of our country.
“We must let the light each of us carries – men and women, young and old – shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn,” Tinubu said.
Don’t lose faith, we’ll deliver on our promise, Akpabio tells Nigerians
Senate President Godswill Akpabio enjoined Nigerians not to lose faith in the country, assuring that the APC-led federal government would deliver on its promises.
In his New Year message signed by his spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh, he expressed optimism that with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the driving seat, Nigeria was on course to regaining its enviable place in the comity of nations.
He said: “I wish to reassure you that things will turn for the better in the year 2024. Keep believing in us and we shall surely deliver on our promises.
“The executive arm of government and indeed members of the National Assembly are not oblivious of the sacrifices you are making. I still appeal to you not to lose faith in Nigeria but be hopeful and prayerful.”
Show Nigerians clear direction of your policies, Atiku tells president
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the federal government to make the ordinary Nigerians the centerpiece of its development agenda in 2024.
In his New Year message, he said the government must show a clear direction of its policy projections and “desist from the subsisting behaviour of groping in the dark.”
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last elections said: “The rising cost of food items, goods and services, the malfunction in our national economy and the degenerating state of our national and community security are all existential challenges we have to face squarely in the New Year.
“While many companies have closed their operations in Nigeria and moved their enterprise elsewhere with clearer policies and visions, the situation of life for Nigerians keeps getting direr.
“To walk back from these throes of adversities will require a well-thought vision of a national planning that will deliberately make the common people of Nigeria the centerpiece of our development.
“The Year 2024 is still new on its canvas; and so, there is ample time for the current government to champion a pathway to addressing the acute hardship that Nigerians are going through.”
Nigeria lacks good leadership – Obi
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last elections, Peter Obi, said though Nigeria was deeply endowed, it was still “lacking in good leadership”.
In his New Year message, he said: “Nigerians are now much aware and convinced that good governance, inclusive development, and accountable leadership expected in a functional democracy, continue to elude us but we must be consistent and resolute in our demand for rule of law, regulatory quality, and government effectiveness for transformative solutions to a litany of our social problems”.
He said Nigerian politics must not be left in the hands of transactional politicians, saying the business of Nigeria is far too important to be left to those involved in transactional politics.
Obi also warned that it is dangerous to tilt Nigeria to a one-party state.
He said the nation’s economy remained confusing and depressing with unemployment, inflation, poverty, inequality, and other key socio-economic variables all negative and worsening.
Rise up, defend our democracy, PDP charges Nigerians
The Peoples Democratic Party charged Nigerians to brace up to use every legitimate means to resist all fascist tendencies and defend the nation’s constitutional democracy from totalitarianism.
The PDP, in its New Year message by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, also urged Nigerians to set aside every ethnic, religious and political partitioning and join their voices with the PDP in resisting anti-democratic forces seeking to undermine the constitution, emasculate institutions of democracy and foist a fascist regime on our nation.
APC appeals for patience
The deputy national chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress, Ali Bukar Dalori, in his New Year message by hi media aide, Yemi Akinbode, appealed to Nigerians “to be a little more patient with the government as it is determined to bring the good old time back to Nigerians again.”
He said: “President Bola Tinubu is determined to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy in the New Year. He has laid a solid foundation for the prosperity and growth of the economy. Therefore, in 2024, the people of Nigeria will savour and relish the outcomes of the hard work and solid foundation the president has laid in the past seven months.”
Governors ask citizens not to lose hope:
Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed said though 2023 had its challenges in the economic, political and social spheres of human life, “To the glory of God Almighty, these challenges have been surmounted and here we are in the dawn of the new year, looking forward to a peaceful and prosperous 2024.”
Kwara
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on urged the people of the state to work with his administration for sustainable development and a more fulfilling new year.
He also called for “constructive engagement of various agencies of government and representatives of the people for better service delivery”.
Let’s keep hope alive- Enugu gov
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has predicted a bright 2024 for the country, asking Nigerians to keep hope alive.
Mbah, in his New Year message, said the gains of some 2023 economic policies would begin to trickle in this year.
He assured the people of Enugu State of disruptive economic growth in the New Year, given the various projects, policies, and laws, including the state’s 2024 Appropriation Law rolled out by his administration in the just ended year.
Niger
Niger State Governor Umar Bago urged residents of the state to step into the new year with excitement as it is expected to be better than 2023.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, he said: “The year 2024 will also be promising for business owners and those who desire to start one.”
Imo
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinnma, in his New Year’s broadcast yesterday, said: “I am very confident that the promised glorious dawn is close enough.
“Thus l appeal to good people of lmo state to be patient because your 2024 will surely herald that glorious dawn.”
By Muideen Olaniyi, Baba Martins, Abdullateef Salau, Abbas Jimoh (Abuja), Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilorin), Hassan Ibrahim (Bauchi) & Joe Nwachukwu (Owerri)
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