The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement – Northeast, Hon. Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba, has called on Nigerians, particularly those in the Northeast, to avoid being distracted by the recent calls for planned and unplanned protests.
He emphasized that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration anticipated the short-term effects of certain tough decisions, which were necessary to address long-standing issues neglected by previous governments for political reasons.
Abba stated, “These tough decisions were essential, despite their short-term impacts, because previous leaderships chose to sidestep them, likely for political reasons.”
While the government is focused on long-term solutions, Abba assured that it is also sensitive to the current hardships faced by Nigerians and has implemented various palliative measures.
He highlighted the importance of subsistence and commercial farming as opportunities to alleviate these difficulties. “The importance of subsistence and commercial farming cannot be overstated as a means to alleviate the current hardships,” he remarked.
Abba noted that reports predicting food insecurity preceded the current administration, which in fact, prompted some of the recent policy decisions. With the farming season underway and new opportunities from the recently inaugurated Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) by Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima and initiatives by The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, CON, Abba stressed the need to stay focused and not be swayed by those who seek unrest for personal gain. He said, “We must stay focused and not be swayed by those who seek unrest for personal gain, especially with new opportunities from the PFSCU and initiatives by the Hon. Minister of Agriculture.”
Additionally, Abba reassured Nigerians that immediate respite will come as soon as the refineries are fully functional. He emphasized that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited is well on top of the matter, and private efforts like that of Dangote must be commended and rewarded with just a little patience.
“Immediate respite will come once the refineries are fully operational. The NNPC Limited is well on top of the matter, and efforts like Dangote’s must be commended,” he stated. This will help reduce the cost of energy, which is vital for economic stability.
Furthermore, Abba linked these efforts to ongoing initiatives to improve the supply of electricity to underserved areas, led by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the leadership of Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the Managing Director/CEO.
He highlighted projects like the Energizing Education Programme (EEP), Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI), and Energizing Agriculture Programme (EAP) as having a direct impact on the rural economy by providing reliable electricity, thereby boosting education, local economies, and agricultural productivity. “These initiatives by the REA are crucial in boosting our rural economy through reliable electricity supply,” he noted.
Abba affirmed that it is every Nigerian’s right to voice grievances and hold the government accountable, but protests should be a last resort when the government is unresponsive. “Protests should be a last resort when the government is unresponsive. Here, we have a President who listens and acts,” he said. President Tinubu, who secured Fiscal Autonomy for Local Governments, has shown commitment to addressing the people’s concerns.
Abba called on communities to contribute to solutions rather than joining unproductive idlers who are looking for opportunities that protests present to loot and pillage hard working, well-meaning Nigerians who might have been well-intentioned in joining or supporting the protests.
He also noted that improved security efforts, bolstered by community input, can restore confidence and allow people to return to their farms. He concluded by urging Nigerians not to waste the opportunity presented by the current rains by protesting, as the government is already taking action to address their concerns. “Let us not waste this opportunity by protesting when the government is already addressing our concerns,” he urged.
