Nigerian govt should invest in education, economy to reduce poverty, insecurity, says former CP, Balogun

A former Commissioner of Police and Federal Commissioner at the Code of Conduct Bureau (Presidency) Dr Olayinka Balogun, has stressed the need for government at all levels to see investment in education as a veritable tool in the war against poverty, insecurity and other societal ills in the country.

Balogun made this call while delivering the 22nd Annual Ramadan lecture of Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fathi Society, (NASFAT) in Obaile, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. He further called on the government to develop a strong economy and accessible education to end the issues of insecurity in Nigeria.

Speaking on the theme, “Security Challenges In Nigeria: Combining Knowledge and Skills For Effective Actions By Public and Private Actors, an Islamic Perspective”, the former Police boss said Nigeria had lost many innocent lives, an invaluable quantity of property, and suffered incalculable damage in the area of economic development and progress.

He said it is imperative for the government to make corrections, noting that insecurity could be reduced to the barest minimum if political, economic and social policies and programmes are introduced and sustained in a society.

Balogun, who is also a legal practitioner said: “Tourism in the area of leisure, economy, medical and communication has almost come to a halt as a result of the negative shadow cast on this area of human activities by our current state of insecurity.

“Also the death of nightlife and activities, thus reducing our economy to a 12-hour duration instead of a 24-hour economy, as it exists in other parts of the world.

“Government needs to implement universal and compulsory basic education with the relevant curricular and globally competitive and comparable standards in public and private educational institutions.

“And also adopt and implement necessary measures to educate and train a child and youth beggars across the country to empower them as participants in the nation’s political and socio-economic sectors.”

The former Police Boss, however, charged the Muslim faithful to be good to their neighbours, saying the government should arise and fight corruption, bribery, lethargy, open audacity and teach deterrence, as well as punish impunities.

“If neighbours operate under an Islamic pact that enshrines mutual benefits that will lead to peaceful co-existence, then peace could have been guaranteed in the family, village, town and county.

“Islam insists that you must accommodate the next person to you, be a co-tenant, a landlord, a co-worker, fellow students, even a transient fellow, and co-traveller, either a Muslim or a non-Muslim,” he said.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Hon Abdul-Fatai Olotu, said that problems that affect a large number of people could not be solved from an individual perspective.

Olotu, a former deputy speaker of the Ondo House of Assembly, said the problems can be solved from a collective perspective that includes religion, social, political and economic structures.

“Kidnapping has suddenly become rife in the nation as many tops and average individuals are being kidnapped for one reason or the other. It is heartwarming that NASFAT has decided to take the bull by the horns.

“Some actors have claimed that insecurity in our land is induced by invincible social sponsors such as ignorance and poverty. We must flourish as individuals so that we can better assist ourselves in periods of esteem needs,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Alhaji Sulayman Bello, the NASFAT Akure Branch Chairman, said that the Ramadan lecture would positively contribute to ameliorating the security challenges of the county and particular awake the consciousness of everyone’s responsibility towards every circumstance.

“Our country, Nigeria, needs prayer at this point when a series of security issues are emanating and bedevilling us. At the moment, I believe that security is one of the most important issues to discuss in the gathering of actors including religious organisations,” he said.

Similarly, Alhaji AbdulHakeem Yayi-Akorede, Chief Imam of Akure, said that lack of parental care, single parenthood and their consequences on the upbringing of the youths, was one of the causes of insecurity in the society.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

‘Officials initially offered to help but when the number of able-bodied citizens at the centre increased, they left us unattended to’
With the imminent disconnection of the SIM cards of Nigerian phone users who failed to enroll for the National Identification Number (NIN) registration, This report unearths the unsavoury treatment of persons with disabilities at NIMC enrolment centres in the six South-West states which is in disobedience of the provisions of the Disabilities Act and other laws. Nigerian govt should invest in education, economy to reduce poverty, insecurity, says former PC, Balogun

Court Awards Nnamdi Kanu N1 Billion Over Invasion Of His Home By Military, Asks FG To Apologise
Justice Benson Anya of the Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia on Wednesday awarded the sum of N1 billion to the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, over the 2017 invasion of his Afara Ukwu home by the military.

Why Ogun Tops List Of ‘Yahoo Boys’ In Nigeria ― Governor Abiodun
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said that the presence of many educational institutions in the state was one of the factors why the state tops the list of internet fraudsters popularly known as ‘Yahoo boys’ in the country.

Suspected Cannibal Pays N500,000 For Boy’s Human Organs, Says ‘That’s My Favourite Meal, Especially The Throat’ 
A 57-year-old man, Aminu Baba, arrested by Zamfara State Police Command for allegedly conniving with three others to kill a nine-year-old boy and get his body parts, for which he paid N500,000, opened up on his liking for human parts as a meal, with the throat as his favorite.

Police, Amotekun After Criminals On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
IN response to the agitations and fears of people plying the Lagos-Ibadan highway over attacks by kidnappers, Ogun State Police Command has assured the general public that it has mapped out strategies to outrun the kidnappers and flush them out of their axis of operation.

Nigerian govt should invest in education, economy to reduce poverty, insecurity, says former PC, Balogun