Nationwide Protest: You Don’t Know Where This Will End, Shettima Tells Nigerians

• Vice President Shettima urged Nigerians to focus on constructive solutions rather than protests, acknowledging economic hardships but warning against instability
• He emphasized the government’s commitment to initiatives like Nutrition 774 to drive positive changes, calling for diplomacy, engagement and patience

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to focus on constructive solutions to the country’s challenges rather than preparing for protests.

Speaking on Friday at the unveiling of the Grand Challenges Nigeria (GCNg) Project, a global health initiative to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria, Shettima emphasized the importance of constructive action over protests. The project, in collaboration with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), was launched during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Shettima acknowledged Nigerians’ economic hardships due to recent reforms, including removing fuel subsidies, but stressed that protests might lead to instability. He said: “This is the time for us to solve our problems, not to protest. The right to protest is guaranteed in most democracies, but initiating agitation without knowing where it will end can lead to anarchy.”

He remarked, “We appreciate what Nigerians are going through, and our heart goes to them. The oil subsidy has been a burden for 50 years. We believe the harvests will positively impact the common man once the harvest starts coming.”

The Vice President urged diplomacy, engagement, and patience, likening the current situation to a painful but ultimately rewarding childbirth process. He highlighted the government’s commitment to the Nutrition 774 Initiative, which aims to drive positive community changes.

Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, leader of the NSN delegation, called on Shettima to lead the government’s component of the GCNg Project and seek ministerial support. He noted that the project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and emphasized the need for government ownership and partnership in the initiative.

Senior Programmes Manager for Grand Challenges Nigeria, Godwin Bamsa, provided context on the initiative’s global impact, revealing that the Gates Foundation has invested over $1.6 billion in health and innovation projects across 118 countries since 2003.