As the year commences, Nigerians are anticipating the realisation of seven cardinal promises President Bola Tinubu, during his New Year’s speech, reaffirmed his commitment to delivering to Nigerians in 2024.
Recall that in his New Year’s speech, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on seven crucial promises made to Nigerians in 2024.
Improved Power Supply: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maitama Tuggar, announced that the Siemens gas deal with Germany and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project would lead to a significant improvement in electricity supply by the first half of 2024. President Tinubu also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance transmission lines and fortify the national grid.
Enhanced Security: President Tinubu declared a commitment to addressing various security challenges across the country. State Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle, stated that by November 2024, the administration aims to eliminate insecurity, prioritising national defense and internal security.
New Wage Structure: Minister of Information and Communication, Idris Mohammed, announced a new wage structure effective April 1, 2024, as part of negotiations with labour unions. President Tinubu assured the implementation of a new national living wage to alleviate the financial burden on Nigerians.
Functional Refineries: With the mechanical phase of turnaround maintenance completed on the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu expressed optimism about all state-owned refineries being operational by the end of 2024, signalling progress in local petroleum refining.
Students Loan Programme: Commencing in January 2024, President Tinubu’s government aims to launch a Students Loan Programme to address rising tuition fees and promote uninterrupted learning in higher institutions.
Loans for MSMEs: The Vice-President’s office, in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, is set to disburse ?75bn in loans to Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises starting in January 2024, fostering financial support for small businesses.
Food Supply and Security: President Tinubu assured Nigerians of its affordability through the National Wheat Development Programme. The initiative aims to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmland across the country to grow staple crops.
President Tinubu, in his speech, has emphasised his administration’s resilience in the face of existing challenges, and assured the citizens that his administration is dedicated to achieving positive outcomes. The general consensus among most Nigerians is that they are looking forward to positive developments and improvements in the various sectors outlined as promised by Mr. President.
