Dr Yusuf Yakub, the director-general, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), has cautioned the youths against planned protest, saying it is capable of disrupting peace and stability in the country.
Mr Yakub said this on Friday while speaking on the proposed nationwide protest at a news conference in Abuja.
The D-G, who said no progress could be made in a time of chaos, urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu-led administration to address economic challenges.
He also called on parents to appeal to their wards to desist from participating in any activities that may risk their lives or the lives of others.
He expressed confidence in Mr Tinubu’s ability to address the current challenges being faced by Nigerians.
According to him, most of what Nigerians may be considering internal challenges at the moment are actually fallouts of what the entire globe is currently witnessing.
The D-G advised all aggrieved youths to follow the path of dialogue, rather than engaging in any form of agitations that may pull the country back from the gains already made by the Tinubu-led administration in the past one year.
“It is common knowledge that no progress can be made in a time of chaos. So, it beats the imagination why any person will at this material time want to resort to protests to make a point. What point if I may ask?
“Nigeria is not an island. We are all witnesses to cost of living crisis across countries of the world, even in the most developed ones.
“We cannot be completely isolated from such realities being felt in the United Kingdom, United States, France, Russia, South Africa and other places. It is not easy anywhere now across the globe, and remember there are factors that are causing all of these.
“All of these have arisen as a result of the on-going war in places like Russia and Ukraine, which are major hubs in grain production and distribution. There is also the problem in the Middle East, where there are Israeli-Hamas conflicts.
“These have snowballed into parts of Lebanon, Iran and the rest of that economically important corridor. You know this is the hub of oil production. Every tension in that area has a serious backlash on the global oil market and the general economy.
“Also, I would like to stress that we are not insulated from any of these global challenges, including the effects of global warming,’’ the director-general said.
He urged Nigerians to exercise patience and give the president and his lieutenants’ time to offer the Renewed Hope Agenda, the enabling environment and the requisite co-operation needed for the desired results.
According to him, these required results cannot come from any form of disorders or negative eruptions nationwide, I can categorically tell you that the president we know and voted into office is not sleeping on anything concerning Nigeria.
“He is the father of the nation and no father will sit down and watch his home go into flames,’’ Mr Yakub said.
According to him, the Tinubu-led administration has continued to attract global respect and goodwill for impactful in-roads being made by the Technical Aid Corps scheme.
This, he said, was done through technological transfer and diverse volunteering efforts in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and beyond.
He added that it would be absurd for Nigerians at home to protest against the current administration that has in the last one year continued to win notable accolades abroad.
“Also, for the various policies and economic decisions, the administration has brought to bear on the arena of political governance and social sector re-engineering.”
(NAN)
