2024: GAMA Urges Nigerian Government to Prioritize Security, Economic Rejuvenation

Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin.

Last updated Dec 31, 2023

The Gamji Members’ Association (GAMA), Kwara State Chapter, has enjoined the Nigerian Government to prioritize security and revamping the economy in the New Year – 2024.

(GAMA is an association devoted to promoting the ideals of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello (1910-1966), a leader of Nigeria’s northern region during the last years of British rule and early independence.)

In its New Year message, the association said Nigerians deserve to live in any part of the country without the fear of being attacked by bandits and other criminals. The group also noted that Nigerians are entitled to good living, which can only be guaranteed by sound economic policies.

It emphasized the need for security agencies to restrategize, be more proactive, and work as a team to rid the nation of criminals.

In a statement signed by its President General, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde Akanbi, and the Director of Publicity, Alhaji Abdullahi Olesin, GAMA stressed the need for the government to ensure that the nation’s borders are well-manned to check the influx of arms and ammunitions into the country.

While applauding the security operatives for their unrelenting efforts at fighting banditry and insurgency in some parts of the country, the association made a case for the welfare and proper training of the security agents for maximum effect in the fight against all forms of criminality in the country.

Economic Policy with a Human Face

The association advised the government to embark on viable and workable economic policies that will reduce the hardship the Nigerian masses are experiencing, emphasizing that such economic policies should be ones with a human face.

GAMA suggested massive farming by Nigerians as a solution to the high cost of foodstuff and poverty in the land.

“Once the government is able to fix security, it should encourage farmers to go into massive farming in the new planting season to ensure abundant crop production, food security, and sufficiency.

The government should also set up a task force that will check arbitrary increase in the prices of foodstuff and other commodities in the country,” GAMA added.

The association, which asked the federal government to leverage the revamped Port Harcourt refinery to reduce the price of petroleum products in the country, also called for the resuscitation of the nation’s remaining refineries.

“The Federal Government should ensure that all its agreements with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) are met without further delay to avoid an industrial strike, while state governments should also redeem their own sides of agreements they reached with the Organized Labour.

We also appeal to the opposition not to overheat the polity but rather join hands and support the government at all levels to succeed for the benefit of all of us as we don’t have another country than Nigeria.

Governments at all levels should guard against embarking on frivolous projects that do not have a direct impact on the citizens, while the anti-graft agencies should be proactive in the discharge of their duties and expose all those behind the looting of the nation’s treasury.

Due to the high cost of airfares, the government should embark on massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, which presently could best be described as death traps,” GAMA advised.

Alhaji Mohammed Tunde Akanbi The Gamji Members' Association (GAMA)