…Calls for change in value system
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — President Bola Tinubu has condemned the incessant vandalism of electricity cables and other critical infrastructure across the country, describing it as “pure acts of sabotage.”
To this end, President Tinubu has emphasised the need for a change in value system among Nigerians to tackle the nation’s challenges.
The condemnation by yje president may not be unconnected to the recurring bandits attack on cables and towers belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, with the recent incident being the destruction of the newly rebuilt T193 and T194 towers along the Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV single circuit transmission line.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the president spoke in Lagos when he received a delegation from the National Assembly led by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who came to felicitate with him on the Eid-el-Kabir.
“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.
“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.
“The need (for some citizens) to change the rent-seeking mindset and become more productive to the economy is a challenge. The need to stop smuggling and all economic sabotage,” the Ngelale quoted President Tinubu in the statement.
President Tinubu also acknowledged the challenges and the task ahead, assuring the nation of his unwavering determination to turn things around.
“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 percent to damages, you will pay the price,” President Tinubu said.
The president also commended the leadership of the National Assembly for the support extended to his administration, which has resulted in some of the important developments recorded by his administration.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said Nigerians should expect from the legislature more legislations on ease of doing business in the country.
“Looking forward, the National Assembly will tinker with some existing legislations to further improve on the nation’s ease of doing business,” he added.
