500,000 Jobs Coming, Says Minister Of Steel, Urges Nigerians To Stop Protesting

500,000 Jobs Coming, Says Minister Of Steel, Urges Nigerians To Stop Protesting

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has called for a halt to the nationwide protests against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, in Abuja on Friday, Audu addressed the concerns of Nigerians protesting against the economic challenges facing the country.

He assured them that President Tinubu is actively working to resolve these issues.

Audu emphasized the current administration’s accomplishments and expressed confidence that the government will meet citizens’ expectations for effective governance before the end of Tinubu’s term in 2027. He highlighted efforts to rejuvenate the steel industry, with the goal of creating 500,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

“I urge my fellow Nigerians to pause the nationwide protests against the current administration and engage in dialogue to discuss our concerns and aspirations with President Tinubu’s government,” Audu stated.

He noted President Tinubu’s commitment to alleviating the struggles of Nigerians, citing the recent introduction of a ₦70,000 minimum wage and the promotion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal and lower transportation costs by up to 70%.

President Tinubu also launched a financial aid initiative, directing the distribution of ₦50,000 uplift grants to over 100,000 families per state for three months, impacting approximately 5 million families nationwide.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, under Tinubu’s direction, has promised that food prices will decrease within 180 days.

He said measures include importing 250,000 metric tonnes each of wheat and maize, which will be distributed to small-scale processors and millers across the nation to address high food prices.

According to him, Tinubu has ordered the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, attracting $2.5 million for the National Primary Health Care, ensuring citizens access improved healthcare services.

“My colleague, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, under the direction of Mr President, has assured Nigerians that food prices will crash in 180 days, with strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting the nation being implemented. 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 250,000 metric tonnes of maize are being imported, and these semi-processed commodities will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country.

“Additionally, strengthening the health sector, Mr President has directed the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which attracted 2.5 dollars in financing for the National Primary Health Care so that citizens could have access to better healthcare.

“I and my colleagues at the Cabinet level, under the visionary leadership of Mr President across all sectors, have been working relentlessly to implement various policies within our respective mandates for the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda to facilitate a better Nigeria for all. Many of these projects have already come to light.

“In the steel sector, the ongoing reforms to revive our steel plants will create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, while we attract Foreign Direct Investments as a means of growing and diversifying the economy,” Audu stated.