Independence: Abuja Residents Seek People Oriented Economic Reforms

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have appealed to the Federal Government to implement people oriented policies that will alleviate economic hardship in the country.

The residents made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Gwagwalada, FCT.

They called on the Federal Government to proffer lasting solutions to the current economic hardship in the country.

Mr Abdullahi Suleiman, a civil servant said the 64th independence anniversary was not worth celebrating, because of the hunger and sufferings in the land occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and other unfriendly  policies of the government.

He underscored the need for the government to diversify the economy away from oil.

“The Nigeria economy revolves round the oil sector which is not healthy for the country. The government should bring down the price of fuel as a mean to alleviate hardship.,” he said.
Suleiman also stressed the need to reduce the cost of governance and channel the fund to developmental projects.

“A model should be adopted that will bring down the cost of governance. Take for instance, in the area council, the retinue of appointees is too much

“Leadership should be about service and not about self if we want Nigeria to be what it ought to be”, he said.

Mrs Esther Uzokwu, another Gwagwalada resident, said insecurity and corruption have eaten deep into the fabrics of the country,

According to her, a country as big and naturally endowed as Nigeria should not be talking about unemployment or hardship.

“Nigeria has all it takes to be great, we have enough mineral resources, good soil for agriculture, favourable weather that need to be harnessed to better the lives of the citizens.

“With the type of resources we have, no Nigerian should be living in abject poverty, but the corruption in the country has turned many Nigerians to beggars in their own country,” she said.

Mr Oluwatobi Adedoyin, a businessman, however expressed a different opinion that there were a lot for the country to celebrate at its 64th independence anniversary.

Adedoyin said he was optimistic that Nigeria would be great and better again, adding that what the country needed was the right approach by those in authority and the governed.

He said that in spite of the economic hardship in the country, Nigeria has fared relatively well in some areas including 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule.

“Although the country is not yet where it is meant to be, I believe we will surely get there with the right approaches put in place,” he said.

He called on the government to address the problems in the country especially insecurity and poor infrastructures.

Mrs Ann Oriba, a businesswoman in Bwari area council, said that independence day was loosing its significance in the face of economic challenges.

She said: ” What is there to celebrate in this economy? People are looking for money to feed and pay bills, no time for leisure.

”I am not sure people are that excited anymore. Personally, I’ll be out there hustling for my daily bread to sustain my family because I do not see what is so special about this day anymore.

” It is merely symbolic, existing only on documents because our dear country still relies mostly on foreign forces for resources to develop.”

She expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the economy, adding that, if Nigeria had done much in 64 years, its citizens, especially the youths, would not be going out in droves  to seek greener pastures in other countries.

Another resident, Mr Gabriel Ogbonna, said that he was out to sell his goods and did not attach any significance to the anniversary celebration.

Ogbonna described the country’s journey since 1960, as “a coaster ride with so many potholes that could have been filled along the line, but could not be achieved because of  greed and corruption.

“I will rate Nigeria 30 out of 100 and I dare say, we are not truly independent like we claimed to be, since we have continued to depend on foreign funding and assistance.

” We have enslaved ourselves in our own country and have continued to rely more on consumption rather than production which is a shameful reality.

” Our currency has persistently weakened, leading to inflation, abject poverty, suffering, hunger and starvation, yet we continue to hope and pray for the better days. I pray we wake up from our slumber soon and work harder.”

Mr Isah Balami, a farmer said that asking Nigerians to continue to pray for the country’s progress was not a bad idea but it must be followed with progressive actions by the leaders of the country.

“We keep basking in our past glory while praying that things will get better without planning and working towards progress.

“Other countries worked hard to get to where they are with a system that truly works. Let’s emulate that and stop all this extravagance.

” We lagged behind in almost every sector, from security to infrastructure, agriculture, and the list goes on, we must be truly dependent on all these areas, ” he said.

However, Miss Precious Chima, another resident was hopeful and prayed that Nigerians continue to show some sense of patriotism irrespective of the country’s challenges and difficulties.

Chioma, who identified corruption and poor leadership as major obstacles to the country’s progress, charged every citizen to show some sense of responsibility and accountability for the country’s development.

She urged government at all level to make people oriented policies and give listening ears to the needs and cry of the masses.