The Nigerian Youth For Atiku (NYFA), a support group of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take steps toward reducing the cost of energy and interest rates.

President of the group, Gold Emmanuel, made the call in a statement on Sunday by the director of communications, NYFA, Dare Dada.

The call was part of the resolution reached at the NYFA’s quarterly meeting held in Lagos on Saturday.

Ms Emmanuel said that reducing the cost of energy and interest rates had become necessary to reduce the economic challenges faced by the masses and businesses.

According to her, the president should reconsider his stand on some policies that have triggered inflation and poverty.

“The President must consider many policies of the government and its far-reaching implications on the citizens in the last 12 months.

“Some of the current policies cannot create prosperity and make the people feed well,” she said.

She said sustainable incentives like reduced energy cost and interest rates would cushion the effect of some of the policies.

“Many advanced countries are currently manoeuvring their ways out of the post-COVID effect on their economy by cutting interest rates so citizens can access cheap loans, and companies can produce at a lower cost.

“They also reduce the cost of energy just to maintain some economic balance.

“Nigeria is not isolated from the global economic crisis that erupted after the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a need to cushion these effects,” she said.

Ms Emmanuel also urged Mr Tinubu to consider taking a cue from the economic advice offered by Mr Atiku.

According to her, Mr Atiku remains a seasoned administrator and entrepreneur who has mastered the economic demography of Nigeria and understands how things can be better done.

“There is no big deal in picking from his advice to navigate out of the current economic crisis.

“If the current economic crisis continues, there is a projection that over 133 million Nigerians would have been hit with hunger by 2025.

“This will not impact only productivity but amplify criminal activities such as banditry, robbery, and other social vices that are inimical to the growth of the country.

“A stitch in time saves nine. We need to act now to save Nigeria,” she said.

Ms Emmanuel added that the focus of the government should be to make life more meaningful and bearable while increasing the standard of living of Nigerians. 

(NAN)