HON. ABDULHAMID YAHAYA ABBA RESPONDS TO INCITEFUL COMMENTS BY RELIGIOUS AND TRADITIONAL LEADERS, CALLS FOR UNITY AND RESILIENCE AMID ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

In a resolute response to recent inciteful comments by a few religious and traditional leaders, Hon. Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement – Northeast, has urged for unity, resilience, and responsible leadership amidst Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Hon. Abba emphasized the critical role of religious and traditional leaders in guiding the nation through turbulent times and fostering a sense of unity among citizens.

Acknowledging the impact of divisive rhetoric, Hon. Abba underscored the importance of upholding values of peace, unity, and understanding. He highlighted the profound influence these leaders wield in shaping public discourse and emphasized their responsibility to lead Nigerians in prayers for guidance and wisdom during these trying times.
While acknowledging that only a few among religious and traditional leaders have resorted to inciting rhetoric, it is essential to underscore the profound impact their words have on the collective psyche of the nation.

As custodians of moral guidance and community pillars, they bear a solemn responsibility to uphold the values of peace, unity, and understanding.
The government recognizes the pivotal role of responsible leadership in guiding the nation through these trying times.

As esteemed stakeholders of this administration, religious and traditional leaders occupy a position of influence that transcends political affiliations.

The peace and stability of the nation hinge upon their guided rhetoric and homilies, which have the power to either unite or divide society.

The presidential media aide argued that “in light of the economic adjustments following the removal of fuel subsidies and the undulating exchange rate, the government really needs religious and traditional leaders to exercise wisdom and restraint in their public discourse which should be tilting the populace towards how they can position themselves to benefit from the policies and initiatives the government has put in place to alleviate this temporary discomfort.”

Hon. Abdulhamid strongly believes they of greater service to the community to essentially convey a message of resilience, hope, and collective action, than incite fear and apprehension.

To ensure food security and affordability, multi-stakeholder engagements have been conducted with farmers’ associations, resulting in measures to stabilize food prices and enhance food security.

The approval for the release of 200,000 metric tonnes of food from the government’s reserves underscores the Renewed Hope’s propensity for reactive as well as proactive response to community-related challenges. However, this is only one facet of a broader strategy aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural sector and promoting agribusiness opportunities.

The agribusiness value chain presents a unique opportunity for job creation, economic empowerment, and sustainable development.

By investing in commercial farming and value-added agricultural activities, Nigeria can unlock the full potential of its agricultural resources and eliminate dependency on food imports therefore reducing the strain on foreign exchange.

In response to the economic challenges facing the nation, Hon. Abba wished to remind Nigerians of a series of strategic initiatives unveiled by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led-administration, to mitigate hardships and foster economic growth. “Our dear president has issued executive directives to tackle unfavorable fiscal policies and excessive taxes that impede business growth, particularly in manufacturing. These directives aim to create favorable conditions for the expansion of manufacturing businesses.

Additionally, N75 billion has been allocated to support high-potential enterprises, while N125 billion is designated to boost the MSME sector and empower nano businesses.

Furthermore, Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba iterated this government’s commitment to a partnership with traditional and religious leaders that eases the nation into a more economically viable future for our dear nation by weathering through these trying times. He admonished that “in addition to some of the plans the government has, the clergies, the ulamas and traditional leaders can offer solutions based off feedback from the community, to compliment the government.”

In addition, Hon. Abba said they can transmit these government initiatives or better still, proffer ways to improve them considering their proximity to the community.

He outlined some of the plans that potentially benefits the people and can be made more effective with religious and traditional leaders onboard in sensitizing and orientating communities:

Plans are underway to support the cultivation of farmland and invest in critical infrastructure, including the acquisition of CNG-fuelled buses for mass transit. Hon. Abba also highlighted the government’s commitment to improving worker welfare through plans to introduce a new national minimum wage in collaboration with labour unions.

Executive Orders Enhancing the Business Environment: Executive Orders have been issued to address unfriendly fiscal policies and multiple taxes stifling the business environment.

These orders aim to provide necessary buffers for businesses in the manufacturing sector to thrive and expand.
Empowering Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs): N125 billion will be directed towards energizing the MSME sector, including conditional grants to 1 million nano businesses and funding for 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups.

Revitalizing Agriculture: N200 billion will be disbursed to support the cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland, targeting small-holder farmers and leveraging large-scale private sector players in the agric business.

Infrastructure Development: The government has approved an Infrastructure Support Fund for the States, aimed at revamping critical infrastructure such as healthcare, education, and rural access roads. Additionally, N100 billion will be invested in acquiring CNG-fuelled buses for mass transit.

Amidst the challenging realities we face, it is crucial to acknowledge that incitements fueled by political and personal sentiments worsen our situation.

Such propaganda undermines efforts to overcome our economic challenges and threatens the stability of our society.

In light of this, Hon. Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba emphasized the action of responsible religious and traditional leaders to rein in those tarnishing the esteemed position they hold in society.

He called upon the majority of these leaders to urge the few inciting discord to desist from their divisive actions and uphold the values of peace and unity.

In conclusion, Hon. Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to addressing economic challenges and fostering inclusive growth. He urged religious and traditional leaders to lead by example, promoting unity and resilience among Nigerians.

With prayers for guidance and wisdom, Hon. Abba expressed optimism that Nigeria will overcome its current challenges and emerge stronger than ever before.