President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, has faulted the Federal Government’s claim of achievements in security, economy and infrastructure.
Speaking in a recent interview with Vanguard, Shettima asked Nigerians to be “more realistic, and have the political will to bring about the badly-needed change for the better”.
POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had last week listed 100 achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2021.
Mohammed said the Buhari government recorded tremendous achievements across all sectors in 2021, despite security, economic challenges and effects of the COVID -19 pandemic.
He noted that these achievements were recorded in the areas of insecurity, boosting the economy and providing infrastructure among others.
“I don’t know what parameter the government used in arriving at “positive achievements” but I am aware that a lot still needs to be done in this area. I read a lot of disturbing news on daily basis. I just hope the despondency in my nation ends soon. Without prejudice to what Minister Lai Mohammed claims, I believe a lot more needs to be done on safety and security,” Shettima said while reacting.
“In the area of infrastructure, I doubt if any positive achievement has been recorded. We have so many federal roads full of potholes and driving by road has become quite disturbing in today’s Nigeria. One area that disturbs me apart from the security challenge is the infrastructure deficit. It seems the budget on infrastructure is either not being faithfully implemented or there are distractions in today’s Nigeria.
“As for the economy, I just wonder whether the Federal Ministry of Finance has the will to initiate viable economic policies beyond too many taxes. Though I’m not in a position to say exactly what the Minister of Finance has to offer in 2022, I think she needs to introduce comparatively more masses-friendly policies with less taxation and more welfare initiatives.
“I heard some Nigerians complaining about running businesses at a loss because of unforeseen costs of diesel for powering their generators. I heard of unprecedented price of electricity meters, price of cooking gas and other daily needs of Nigerians. The buck stops at the Finance Minister’s desk. She should introduce programmes to tackle widespread poverty, unemployment and related problems.
“Most importantly, I believe that there is still hope that all the challenges – from security to economy and infrastructure none is insurmountable once we are ready to be more realistic and have the political will to bring about the badly-needed change for the better,” Shettima submitted.
