In a televised address to the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on Nigerians to suspend further protests under the #EndBadGovernance campaign, saying he has "heard them loud and clear." The President outlined a series of economic reforms and social interventions aimed at addressing the concerns raised by the protesters.
Tinubu began by asserting his constitutional duty to ensure public order, warning that the government will not tolerate any attempts to "tear this nation apart." He urged protest organizers to create room for dialogue, stressing the need for national unity in reshaping Nigeria's destiny.
On the economy, the President acknowledged past misalignments that had "stunted" Nigeria's growth, justifying his decision to remove fuel subsidies and unify the foreign exchange system. He touted significant strides in rebuilding the economic foundation, including a more than doubling of government revenues and reduced debt servicing obligations.
Tinubu also highlighted major infrastructure projects underway, the resurgence of the oil and gas industry, and the launch of the Compressed Natural Gas initiative to power the transportation sector and curb inflation. He promised to distribute one million CNG conversion kits to commercial vehicle operators.
In the social sector, the President announced the expansion of the student loan scheme, the Consumer Credit Corporation, and various skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programs for the youth. He also disclosed plans to increase minimum wage to N70,000 per month and provide incentives for farmers to boost food production.
Addressing the #EndBadGovernance protests directly, Tinubu assured the youth that the government is committed to listening and addressing their concerns. He urged them to choose "hope over fear, unity over division, and progress over stagnation," and warned against allowing the "enemies of democracy" to use them to promote an unconstitutional agenda.
The President concluded by directing security operatives to maintain peace, law, and order, while respecting human rights conventions. He expressed confidence that the benefits of his administration's reforms will soon be visible and concrete for all Nigerians to experience.