Nigerians have been enjoined to be more positive about the new year as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors, political parties and other leaders have pledged to play their constitutional roles to make Nigeria more peaceful and prosperous in 2024.
In separate messages to the citizens to herald the New Year today, Tinubu and the governors enumerated the policies and programmes in the outgone year to set the country and their states on the part of development.
Tinubu asserted that since he came into office seven months ago, he had taken drastic decisions to save the country and address its numerous challenges.
In his nationwide broadcast this morning to Nigerians to usher in the New Year, the president acknowledged that 2023 was a transitional year that saw a peaceful transfer of power to his administration.
He reiterated his commitment to revamp the economy, restore security, boost agriculture and set Nigeria on a path to national greatness.
Tinubu admitted that some of his decisions, like fuel subsidy removal and changes to the foreign exchange system, brought discomfort to many. However, he stated they were necessary to save Nigeria from fiscal catastrophe.
Tinubu sympathised with citizens over the high cost of living and inflation and promised that his administration is now poised to accelerate service delivery across sectors.
Parts of his speech read: “The task of building a better nation and making sure we have a Nigeria society that cares for all her citizens is the reason I ran to become your President. It was the core of my Renewed Hope campaign message on the basis of which you voted me as President.
“Everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land since I assumed office on 29 May, 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country…
“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.
“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.”
The president urged all Nigerians to resolve that in this New Year 2024, every one of them will commit to be better citizens.
He highlighted initiatives like freeing captives from abductors and working towards peace and security nationwide.
Tinubu also laid out his economic and social agenda for 2024.
He highlighted plans to improve electricity, fuel refining, food production, business environment, wages and standard of living.
On power, Tinubu revealed that he had agreed with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in December to accelerate the Siemens electricity project under the Presidential Power Initiative.
He said other projects are also ongoing to boost the national grid.
“My administration recognises that no meaningful economic transformation can happen without steady electricity supply,” Tinubu affirmed.
He further stated that local refining of petroleum will restart this year with the Port Harcourt refinery and Dangote refinery.
To ensure food security, he said the government will cultivate 500,000 hectares for crops like rice and wheat.
Tinubu promised to simplify fiscal and tax policies to aid business competitiveness.
He invited more foreign investment, vowing to remove obstacles investors face in Nigeria.
The president’s eight priority areas in the 2024 budget include security, job creation, stability, human capital development and poverty reduction.
He pledged that a new national minimum wage will be implemented this year to improve workers’ remuneration just as he warned that his appointees who underperform will be removed after evaluation.
He outlined plans to close inequality gaps and give every Nigerian the opportunity to thrive through hard work.
Tinubu called for national unity, inviting opponents to work for Nigeria’s progress. He wished Nigerians a happy 2024, urging citizens to play their role in building a prosperous country.
“We will work diligently to make sure every Nigerian feels the impact of their government. The economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected,” he stated.
In his own New Year message, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq urged the people of the state to work with the administration to promote sustainable development and a more fulfilling new year.
In a New Year message signed by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor assured that the government will continue to deliver on its core mandate of ensuring safety of lives and properties, maintaining law and order, and providing basic amenities and infrastructure within available resources.
His Ogun State counterpart Prince Dapo Abiodun said the state would witness unprecedented infrastructure development this year.
In a statewide broadcast yesterday, Abiodun called on the people of the state to embrace this year, 2024, with renewed hope as his administration is working hard to make life bearable for them.
He said, “We have prioritized the provision of the required infrastructure, particularly in the transportation sector. We have constructed or rehabilitated over 500 kilometres of roads across the state, thus ensuring improved transportation and connectivity. Our commitment to equitable development is evident, as these works are spread across our 20 Local Government Areas in the state.”
Similarly, Katsina State Governor Umar Dikko Radda expressed his administration’s commitment to the fight against banditry and other related crimes in 2024.
The governor, in his New Year message, issued by his chief press secretary, Ibrahim Kaula, acknowledged the strong passion of the people in the face of challenges bedevilling the state, assuring of his commitment to tackling the challenges affecting the state.
2024 will be a better year – Speaker Abbas
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has congratulated Nigerians as they celebrate the New Year, saying 2024 promises to be a better year for the citizens.
Abbas, in his New Year message, said with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, and the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House, Nigeria is about to witness massive growth and development.
The speaker in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Musa Krishi, however, noted that for the country to be great again, the people must support the policies, projects, and programmes of the government at all levels and in all ramifications.
He, therefore, urged Nigerians not to only pray for their leaders but also work with them towards having a better country.
Tinubu Committed To Fulfilling His Campaign Promises – APC
The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has described 2024 as a year for the crystallisation of hope for a more prosperous future for the country.
AIn a statement signed by the party’s national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, APC applauded the people for all the patriotic sacrifices made for the peace and unity of the country, economic stabilisation and progress.
He said the APC administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains resolute in its commitment to making good its electoral promises to create and expand access to economic opportunities, improved service delivery and security and usher in balanced and sustainable development.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to President Tinubu for his forthright and inspiring leadership of our Party. We appreciate the National Assembly leadership, the APC Legislative Caucus, the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party, our strategic and development partners, and the press for their leadership and support in the outgoing year,” it said.
Gear Up To Resist Fascist Policies, PDP Tells Nigerians
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to brace up to use every legitimate means to resist all fascist tendencies and defend the nation’s constitutional democracy from totalitarianism.
The party, in its 2024 New Year message, also called on the international community to assist in the sustenance and support for democracy in Nigeria “given the huge humanitarian crisis with potential negative consequences on the stability of West Africa, Africa and indeed the world should democracy fail in Nigeria.”
The national publicity secretary of PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba, urged the citizens to say no “to anti-democratic actions and policies of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which are so far tilted towards the institutionalisation of corruption, crippling of democracy institutions and sabotaging of national productivity which the PDP had earlier alerted is consistent with APC’s scheme to weaponise poverty and suppress Nigerians to surrender to totalitarianism.”
“Such assault on Democracy Institutions including the emasculation of the National Assembly to prevent it from playing its Constitutional role of holding the Executive accountable; the compromising of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the appointment of card-carrying APC members as Resident Electoral Commissioners and alleged attempts to also compromise the Judiciary and anti-corruption agencies are all pointers to emerging totalitarianism,” it said.
The party urged Nigerians and the civil society to condemn the recklessness and lack of transparency of the APC administration that has led to the collapse of the Naira, the alleged massive looting of funds including proceeds from the removal of subsidy on petroleum products; the skewing of the 2024 budget in favour of luxury appetite of the Presidency and APC leaders without concrete policies and programmes to revive the economy, create jobs and address the comatose manufacturing and productive sectors.
