Nigeria @ 61: Plateau residents urge FG to tackle insecurity, other challenges
As Nigeria commemorates its 61st independence, residents of Plateau have advised the Federal Government to tackle all forms of insecurity, unemployment and other challenges currently facing the nation.
Some of the residents made the call in separate interviews with newsmen on Tuesday in Jos.
Mr Henry Bala, a civil servant called on Federal Government to ensure regular training and retraining of security personnel toward a more secure nation.
He also called on government and the security agencies to intensify efforts toward addressing the proliferation of light and sophisticated weapons, saying that such move would guarantee the safety and freedom of all citizens.
“There is a maximum possession of sophisticated weapons by individuals which is a threat to freedom of movement for all.
“If an individual is insecure, it will definitely affect the development of the entire nation.
“What government should do as we celebrate our independence is to improve on our security system by providing the right personnel, who are well equipped to carry out any given task,” he advised.
Bala also called on government to recruit more security personnel, noting that the current numbers on ground are grossly inadequate.
He, however, urged the government to ensure a more thorough screening process during recruitments to employ persons with impeccable character and not criminals into the system.
A cleric, Rev. Steve Shammah, decried the growing insecurity in the nation, appealing for something that urgently should be done to ameliorate the situation.
He also lamented the bad state of roads and other infrastructure in the country, urging the leadership to repair and maintain them to prevent accidents on the roads.
“For this country to move forward, government must be deliberate in tackling insecurity because the sanctity of human lived must be upheld.
“There should be equal treatment, justice for all and above all good governance. That way, we will forge ahead,” he advised.
Mr David Moyi, a legal practitioner, called on government to make the welfare of its citizens a top priority.
He also advised the government to ensure respect for rule law, adding that its abuse could lead to chaos and disharmony.
“The basic responsibility of government is the welfare and security of the people; this has not been reasonably achieved.
“Government should put up strategies and policies that are sustainable by supporting small scale businesses with soft loans, create awareness on the importance of entrepreneurship and ensure a conductive environment for businesses to thrive.
“This way, small scale businessmen will be encouraged and the economy will naturally grow for the good of all,” he said.
Also contributing, Mr Isaac Ejiga, a lecturer with the Mass Communication Department, University of Jos, called on government to salvage the educational sector of the country from total collapse.
Ejiga, who decried the declining rate of education in the country, called on government at all levels to invest more in the sector in order to secure a better future for the generation yet unborn.
“Government must look into the challenges currently facing the education sector.
“The regular ASUU strikes, insecurity on campuses, poor infrastructure and paucity of qualify teachers, lack of training and retraining of these teachers are among the many challenges facing the sector and government must do something.
“The Colonial masters handed over a robust and functional educational system, today it has now become a shadow of itself because of poor planning on the part of government,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Clement Chuwang, a civil servant, called on the government to intensify efforts toward reducing the rate of unemployment among youths in the nation.
Chuwang noted however that the high of rate of unemployment among young people was partly responsible for the current insecurity in the country.
“Government must do something urgently to address the rising spate of unemployment particularly among youths in the country.
“That will partly address the myriad of insecurity facing this nation.
“It is my believe that if our employment rate increases, insecurity like kidnapping, banditry, cultist activities, armed robbery will reduce.
“We know government alone cannot do it, but it can create the enabling environment for private sector to thrive thereby create more jobs for the growing population,” he advised.
