President Bola Tinubu has condemned the recent acts of rail track and electricity cable vandalism, labelling them as economic sabotage with severe impacts on the national value system.
During a meeting in Lagos on Monday evening with a delegation from the National Assembly, President Tinubu emphasised the necessity for a change in the national value system to ensure progress.
The delegation, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, included Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Honourable Benjamin Kalu, among others.
In a statement released by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Tinubu remarked, “Good economics at a harsh time is the challenge that we must face.
“As I said in my speech, no matter how difficult it is and how challenging it can be, I will not turn my back on Nigeria.”
The President called for a shift in mindset among citizens, urging them to reject rent-seeking behaviours and contribute more productively to the economy.
He highlighted the detrimental effects of smuggling and economic sabotage, such as the removal of rail tracks and the theft of electric cables.
“Why should we have people removing rail tracks and all that, stealing electric cables, and sabotaging the economy?
“We must embrace the campaign to change our value system.
“We must tell our people that the challenge we face is for all of us to change our mindset about our country,” Tinubu stated.
He also praised the National Assembly’s leadership for their support, which he credited for the significant developments achieved by his administration.
“It is great pride for me to have the best of partners in the National Assembly. We have to drill down and be all-inclusive in our bid to satisfy our people.
“It is daunting, but we cannot run away from the fact that this country must survive the hardship,” he said.
Acknowledging the country’s challenges, President Tinubu assured the nation of his determination to address them.
“Yes, there is poverty; there is suffering in the land.
“We are not the only people facing such, but we must face our challenges.
“We must find a way to eliminate banditry and terrorism so that farmers can bring out food from the farmland.
“If you do not have good roads to bring the food to the population, even if you grow the food and you are losing 60–70 per cent to damages, you will pay the price,” he noted.
Following the meeting, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed the National Assembly’s support for President Tinubu’s leadership and outlined future legislative efforts to improve the nation’s ease of doing business.
Akpabio and other leaders of the National Assembly visited to pay homage and thank President Tinubu for his purposeful leadership in the first year of his administration.
After meeting with the National Assembly leaders, President Tinubu proceeded to meet with the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
