Economic hardship a global phenomenon ― Lai Mohammed

The present economic hardship experienced by Nigerians is not restricted to the country as it is a global phenomenon, the Federal Government has said.

According the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who stated this during his regular media briefing in Abuja on Monday, government is doing all that is necessary to make life more bearable for citizens.

According to him, the government has been confronted with challenges which it has been addressing on a daily basis and has laid a foundation for a better future.

He said: “If only we met a foundation like this, we would have built on it. If anybody talks of hardship, it is a global phenomenon. Tell me one country in the world where it is rosier in 2022 than 2015. But we continue to meet with challenges, we have security challenges, we have health challenges, the pandemic.

“The beauty of it is that this government is daily addressing the issues. This administration is laying such a foundation for a Nigeria that in a few years time, those who are abusing us will come back and praise us.”

The minister accused the opposition of heating up the polity by instituting a court case on the legality of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and as well, advocating a second EndSARS protest over economic conditions.

He said: “As you know, the folks on the other side have been doing everything in recent times to overheat the polity, distort the achievements of our administration and spread misinformation. Yes, it is very cold out there for the hungry and desperate opposition, but every indication is that they don’t even want to wait for the 2023 elections before testing their popularity or acceptability at the polls.

“How else does one explain their court case seeking the declaration of our convention as illegal? How do you explain their threat of another EndSARS that pushed Nigerian to the brink? How do you explain their glaring misinformation regarding the nation’s state of affairs?

“Gentlemen, there is nothing wrong in having a fiery and viable opposition in a democracy. We were there before and we remain the ones to beat in terms of a determined, viable and relentless opposition. But, in our time, not once did we advocate the destruction of Nigeria just because we couldn’t have our way.

“Not once did we seek to gain power via a desperate court action. If you destroy the country you are seeking to govern, what country will you govern? Must you cut your nose to spite your face?

“In their most recent act of desperation, they sought to erase seven years of unprecedented achievements by the Buhari Administration. In the most egregious show of shamelessness and a blatant refusal to be remorseful, they even had the audacity to express righteous indignation that the damage they inflicted on the country in their 16 years of misrule has not been totally undone in just seven years.

“In other words, those who brought the country to its knees are now accusing those working hard to repair things of non-performance. They said they are ready to rescue Nigeria. Pray, where do kidnappers rescue their victims? These same guys who kidnapped the fortunes of their country are suddenly posing as rescuers.”

While urging Nigerians to beware of the opposition, he conceded that the present administration is contending with numerous challenges but using available resources to make impact.

He added: “Gentlemen, we are not unmindful of the challenges facing this Administration, either in the area of economy, security, power, etc. But we have risen stoutly to the challenges, judiciously utilizing the very scarce resources that we have, and we are making an impact. Nigerians are making great sacrifices because they know that today’s difficulties are like the pangs heralding the birth of a new baby.

“Today’s pains won’t endure, but the new Nigeria that will emerge will surely do!

“The people on the other side say infrastructure is not important. In their derisive posturing, they ask: ‘na infrastructure we go chop?’ But they have forgotten the role of infrastructure in economic development via higher productivity and service delivery, job creation and poverty alleviation, just to mention a few. Little wonder they frittered away the resources of the commonwealth instead of using such to develop our infrastructure during their time in the saddle.”

Mohammed restated some of the present administration’s achievements particularly in the areas of road, rail and bridges infrastructure, chastising the opposition for claiming that they started the projects.

“They claim that all our projects were started by them. And we say even when this is clear misinformation, of what use are projects started and never completed, which is their strategy for looting the commonwealth? We have now delivered four state-of-the-art new airport terminals in Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt. While they left the aviation industry in tatters during their time, we have turned things around,” the minister stated.

“They gloat that Nigerians are suffering under our watch. But we say that while they laid the groundwork for today’s suffering with their mismanagement of national resources at a time of plenty, we have introduced unprecedented measures to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, especially the very vulnerable,” he further noted.

The government’s spokesman regretted that Nigeria cannot enjoy the current global rise in crude oil price because of years of neglect of the industry.

He argued: “Gentlemen, oil producing countries are today smiling to the bank as oil prices are on the rise. Unfortunately, we can not reap the full benefits of the windfall because of years of neglect of the oil industry.

“For years, they could not stimulate growth in the oil industry because they refused to put in place the Petroleum Industry Law. Better late than never, they say. President Muhammadu Buhari last year signed into law the Petroleum Industry Bill, now the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The PIA is envisaged to foster investment in the industry and delineate responsibilities to the various institutions. This is a monumental achievement in the critical oil and gas sector.

“Today, new businesses are springing up in all sectors, thanks to a conducive business environment.”

Mohammed remarked that no government had invested in agricultural revolution like that of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying: “They say ‘oh, but Nigerians are still hungry, and the price of the staples is still high’. Our response is that the impact of our agriculture revolution will soon be felt on dining tables across the country. In this regard, we want to appeal to our farmers to be more patriotic by not allowing foreigners to buy their commodities at farm gates.

“They should reciprocate the support being given to them by the Federal Government by slowing down on exports in order to increase the supply of local staples and also reduce prices.”

While noting that Inflation is also a global phenomenon, he accused the opposition of bandying fake figures, wondering whether there is a country that has not been affected.

The minister argued: “The last issue I want to address is the figures being bandied around by the folks on the other side and a section of the press, comparing the prices of some foodstuffs, petrol, diesel, etc pre-2015 and now. This misuse of statistics is clear mischief. Those who bandy around these figures without putting them in context are being clever by half.

“Let’s take the price of foodstuffs and petrol. Google the price of foodstuffs in other countries, especially the UK and the US, and you will discover a steep rise. Ditto for the price of gas or petrol. What we are saying is that this increase is a global trend, and it’s not limited to any country.

“Therefore, presenting it as a Nigerian problem is mischievous, disingenuous and a clear act of misinformation. Let me add that the crippling fuel shortage experienced across the country in recent times has started easing, as the measures put in place by the government begin to work.”

He maintained that despite his showcasing of government achievements in all sectors, the administration is aware that challenges remain.

“Gentlemen, we have consistently showcased the massive achievements of this Administration in all sectors, even as we admit the challenges we face and work hard to ameliorate things. But against the resort to lies and misinformation by the opposition, it is absolutely necessary for us to dispel their misrepresentation of facts and put things in perspective, which is what we have done today.

“We are not under any illusion that they will stop their misrepresentation. No, because in their desperation to return to complete their demolition work on Nigeria, these folks will stop at nothing to paint us bad. But the good news is that Nigerians remain traumatized by their 16-year misrule, and will not return to ‘Egypt’ by allowing the ‘demolition gang’ back to office. In the meantime, let them present their 16-year stewardship in all the areas we have listed above and let Nigerians judge!” Mohemmed declared.

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