President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain unbowed by the poor economic state and the attendant hardship as tough times never last.
The president made the declaration on Monday in his nationwide New Year address, stating that the foundation for economic recovery had been laid and the pace of service delivery across all sectors would be enhanced.
The president who stated that he was not unaware of the suffering of the people assured that his government was working to change the narrative.
He urged the people of Nigeria to endure saying that the challenges should rekindle their love and faith in the promise of Nigeria.
His words: “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. Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and everyone of us will commit to be better citizens.”
The president also spoke about the efforts being made in the area of security.
He said while there was much to be done, the military had worked to free captives from abductors, and generally, so much work was being done to ensure that “we all have peace of mind in our homes, places of work and on the roads.”
He said his government had in the past seven months laid the groundwork of economic recovery plans and was already poised to accelerate the pace of service delivery across sectors.
“Just this past December during COP28 in Dubai, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and I agreed and committed to a new deal to speed up the delivery of the Siemens Energy power project that will ultimately deliver reliable supply of electricity to our homes and businesses under the Presidential Power Initiative which began in 2018.
“Other power installation projects to strengthen the reliability of our transmission lines and optimise the integrity of our National grid are ongoing across the country,” Tinubu said.
He added that his administration recognised that no meaningful economic transformation could happen without steady electricity supply and it was in that light that his government was “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.”
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“To ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops. We launched the dry season farming with 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State last November under our National Wheat Development Programme.
“In this new year, we will race against time to ensure all the fiscal and tax policies reforms we need to put in place are codified and simplified to ensure the business environment does not destroy value. On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business,” he said.
Tinubu, while stating that the job of nation-building could not be left to those in government, urged Nigerians to play their own part.
It was then, according to him, that the new year would yield all its good benefits.
“Our destinies are connected as members of this household of Nigeria. Our language, creed, ethnicity and religious beliefs even when they are not same should never make us work at cross purposes.
“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,” the president said.
Tinubu called on his opponents in the last election to join hands with him in the interest of the nation.
Said he: “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.”
