The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has pleaded with Nigerians, especially the youths to give the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu more time to adequately addresss the economic challenges bedeviling the country.
He said that the President has already put in place numerous polices and programmes but needed more time to mature.
Kalu made the appeal while delivering his goodwill message at the “Niger Delta Sensitization Conference For Ethnic Nationalities, Youths and Women with the theme “Come, Let Us Build Together” organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Highlighting some of the policies of the federal government, the deputy speaker said that there is increased gas production to ensure the supply of about 500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
He added that the resuscitation of three out of seven gas processing plant is ongoing.
Kalu therefore urged the people not to answer the call to join the nationwide protest.
He said: “We have the compressed natural gas initiative of this government which has offered more affordable alternative to petrol and diesel.
“When it comes to health sector, this administration through its basic healthcare Provision Fund has redesigned the public health sector and has pumped in the amount of $2.5 billion financing of the national primary healthcare system.
“When you talk about Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, it’s an initiative of this administration approved to bridge Nigeria’s funding gap of $25 billion per year in infrastructure, focusing on road, rail, agriculture, ports and aviation.
“When it comes to humanitarian and poverty alleviation, this administration has approved through its humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund. I can go on and on but there is no time for me to reel out all that this administration has done in one year, in 365 days.
“So, if we want to birth a Nigeria that we are proud of using this administration, given the policies, let’s give it time. These policies of renewed hope agenda need time. One year is not enough for these policies to become what we want it to become. Give it time and all the things they have promised to do, they will bring it to pass.
“I want to assure you that in our own efforts, we are pushing from the parliament to make sure that this Port Harcourt refinery will be finally rehabilitated. We are pushing hard with the support of government”.