There is no downplaying the reality of the challenging season that Nigeria finds itself in as a nation: the impact of inflation on personal and household budgets, and the threats to security in parts of the country. As heart wrenching as it sounds, that is only part of the story.

Just as important are the various bold measures that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is taking to decisively confront all of these challenges. For most Nigerians, they fully acknowledge the duty and the responsibility of care that the Federal Government owes to every Nigerian, across the lines of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, and social class.

In the area of security, the major threats are being boldly confronted. The military is taking the fight to the criminals’ dens, with promising results. Within the last week, several bandits, kidnappers and militants have been neutralized or arrested.

The resurgent crisis in Plateau State is indeed highly regrettable, and the military has assured that all perpetrators of violence there, and everywhere else in the country, will be brought to book. Justice will be done, and peace will be restored in all affected communities.

Alarming Economic Indices

Regarding the economy, it is clear that all relevant Ministries and Agencies of the Federal Government are working in coordinated fashion, to bring down inflation, stabilize foreign exchange rates, and create a truly enabling environment for business and investment. The Nigeria that President Tinubu seeks to build is one where no one is left behind.

Impactful interventions are being rolled out, including a Students’ Loan Scheme, a Presidential Initiative to deploy lower-cost CNG mass transit buses to provide alternatives to petrol and diesel, and various low-interest loan schemes for businesses.

The CNG intervention is expected to bring down the cost of transportation by more than 50 percent. Hopefully, Nigerians will take advantage of these opportunities as they emerge, as they have been designed for the benefit of all.

But even as the government tackles these numerous challenges our with urgency and dedication, it is also necessary to remind all Nigerians of the need to resist all forces and narratives of misinformation and division. For example, it is not true that the relocation to Lagos of the Headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and of certain departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are political moves aimed at marginalizing a section of the country. These allegations are unfounded. Instead, these are pragmatic administrative steps to improve operational efficiency and reduce operating costs.

Nigeria belongs to every Nigerian and the work of building the country is one that must be done by everyone, regardless of religious faith or ethnic group or geopolitical zone.

Nigeria’s challenges and the need to forge ahead

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