From terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal farmers-herders conflicts, and even to food and health insecurities, Nigeria and Nigerians are burdened with existential security challenges, and the crushing weight all lies on the shoulders of President Bola Tinubu. KINGSLEY ALUMONA sampled the opinions of Nigerians on their advice to the president on how he can salvage the situation. Their views:
George Orji
The president should reopen the borders and restrict the importation of certain goods. He should return the petrol subsidy to reduce hardship and inflation, which in turn would help to stabilise the economy at certain levels. He should fight insecurity at all levels to attract foreign investors. Finally, he should fix the epileptic power supply and distribution across the country.
Emmy Odogwu
President Tinubu should not pay attention to those talking about negotiations with bandits and kidnappers. He should rather fight them ‘fire for fire’ because these crimes are a form of business to the perpetrators. He should allow state policing, which would help in terms of security. Finally, he should reopen the borders so that more food can be imported to stem the hunger in the land.
Ishaku Ibrahim
The president should revisit the interest rates through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reduce the cost of borrowing from money banks. His government should collaborate with states and local governments for a deliberate and practical approach to mechanised farming to enhance food production rather than the small loans given to subsistence or peasant farmers. Above all, he should fight insecurity across the country to give confidence to foreign investors. Without internal security, economic policies would remain on paper.
Irekponor Ephraim
President Tinubu should restructure the Nigerian armed forces to reflect equity among the six geopolitical zones in the country. He should establish state police and introduce fiscal federalism, which would help to create competition among the states. Some states are idle waiting for allocations from the Federal Government.
Joseph Jabani
President Tinubu should bring back the petrol subsidy. This is the only thing that ordinary Nigerians benefit from. He should reintroduce social investment programmes. This will help many poor People. Many youths in the country have wonderful business ideas but lack startup capital. Through social investment programmes, they could save and start from somewhere. The president should consciously and deliberately declare a state of emergency on agriculture. When all the above conditions are met, the problem of insecurity will be drastically reduced.
George Udor
The president should restructure all the security agencies. He should stop the exportation of food to reduce hardship and hunger in the country. He should also stop politicians from using government security personnel as their guards. Let the politicians and other important persons employ their own security.
Mohammed Ali
The president should reopen the land borders and grant tax waivers on all food-related items. He should deploy the generals to the battlefields and give them time frames to end/dislodge all forms of criminals and insecurities across the country. He should formulate or revisit some fiscal policies that would encourage the appreciation of the naira to the dollar.
Bamidele Olufolabi
President Tinubu should reduce the cost of governance to the minimum. He should restructure the constitution, security agencies, judiciary, and civil service; and create millions of jobs through farming, solid minerals and security. He should give loans and grants to qualified small and medium enterprises and individuals to enable them to start their businesses and grow the economy.
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