As Nigerians welcome the New Year, the Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, has urged the government and private sector to shift their focus from providing palliatives to empowering citizens through sustainable strategies.
He also called on the citizenry to cultivate an attitude of gratitude despite the challenges they may be facing.
In his 2025 New Year message, Archbishop Martins acknowledged the difficulties and hardships that many people are experiencing, but emphasised the importance of maintaining hope and trust in God, while taking concrete actions to address these issues.
The prelate stressed that government and private sector must work together to create opportunities for skills acquisition, gainful employment, and soft loan opportunities for small and medium-scale industries rather than just providing palliatives. This, he believes, will have a long-lasting positive impact on the nation’s economy.
Archbishop Martins also highlighted the need for a better enabling environment for businesses to thrive, citing the increased cost of energy and social amenities as major challenges. He emphasised that while pricing adjustments are necessary, they should be implemented at opportune times to avoid exacerbating the burden on citizens.
On a final note, the Archbishop invited Nigerians to approach the New Year with optimism, open-mindedness, love, and tolerance. He also urged the citizenry to reflect on their successes and failures, learn from their experiences, and look forward to the future with hope and optimism.
