NOA to protesters: Sheath your swords

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), has urged Nigerians, particularly the youths to have a rethink and shun the proposed nationwide protest being organised by some Nigerians.

The Head, Public Relations Unit of the agency in Kaduna State, Mr Abubakar Argungu, made the call in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Kaduna

Argungu said that expressing dissatisfaction with some government policies and programs was a fundamental right of Nigerian citizens as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).

He, however, said that the people should only express their dissatisfaction through right channels, which must be in accordance with the laws of the land.

Argungu reiterated the need for the organisers of the protests to

remember that no meaningful development could be achieved in the midst of chaos and anarchy.

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This, according to him, is especially, as the present administration of President Bola Tinubu meant well for Nigeria and its citizens.

Argungu said that dialogue, therefore, remained the best option in order not to create room for hoodlums to hijack the protests for selfish or political reasons and wreak havoc on innocent Nigerians or their properties.

According to him, Tinubu is not unmindful of the current challenges facing Nigerians as a result of the implementation of some necessary policies.

He listed the recent allocation of 20 trucks of rice to each of the 36 states of the federation as well as the FCT and the president’s intervention in the minimum wage issue as examples of the measures taken to alleviate the pain.

He urged Nigerians to continue to exercise patience, adding that the difficulty was only for a while.