Empower Nigerians, listen to their sufferings”, National Association of Seadogs tells FG

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Capoon, Dr. Joseph Oteri has implored the federal government to create an enabling environment for the masses by empowering them to alleviate their sufferings.

Oteri while speaking in Abuja over the weekend at the Annual Feast of Barracuda organized by the National Association of Seadogs(Pyrates’ Confraternity), – Sahara and Zuma Deck stated that rather than the government campaigning for the 2027 elections, they should focus on empowering the masses and listening to their agitations.

According to Oteri, the masses are currently going through untold hardship but the news of party members are defecting is in vogue neglecting the sufferings of the masses, hence the government should focus more on empowerment rather than politicking.

“Government should listen to the sufferings of the masses. You cannot be talking about 2027 when we are in 2025, and people have not even started anything in terms of
empowerment.

“Listen to the people you are governing, feel their pulse. Don’t just be talking of 2027, all the
people are defecting to one party and stuff like that. It’s good, you can defect, you can support the man, but let the man also listen to what is happening to the people that he’s governing.

“I don’t think everybody is smiling as we speak. So, they should make things easy for the masses
that they are governing.”. he added.

Meanwhile, Oteri while speaking on the theme: “Thriving
B e y o n d H a r d s h i p :
Unlocking Nigeria’s Resources for Financial Stability and Economic
Growth,” noted that as they reflect on Nigeria’s economic journey from oil dependency and currency volatility to a surge in youth unemployment, noted that
hardship, while daunting, is not destiny hence the feast seeks to
to collectively explore how Nigeria can move beyond survival, toward prosperity.

Also speaking, the Area Mate, Area 9 NAS, Obinna Odunze stated that despite Nigeria’s abundant resources, the masses are still striving, and indication that there is hardship in the land, hence a lot still needs to be done to better the lives of the masses.

“We have come a long way, but we are still at that potential level where we have all these resources, both human and capital, but we have not effectively used them to our own advantage and to better our society.”.

Odunze however assured that the NAS will present a communiqué that will be widely publicises and presented to the government for further actions.

“We all know that even the great book, the Bible, says that if you light a lamp and put it under a
bushel, nobody will see it. So we cannot have an interactive session like this without a communiqué.

“There will be a formal communiqué that will be widely publicized and we also count on new members of the press to give it the required publicity so that even
the deaf can hear.”. he stated.

1st Deputy President, Abuja
Chamber of Commerce and industry Prof. Adesoji Adesugba in his keynote address stated that considering the alarming population of the Nigeria, government should not just talk about policies but focus more on implementing them.

Adesugba, among other recommendations however recommended dual vocational system in Nigeria’s educational system whereby youth engages in skills apart from what they are taught in school where they can learn practically and involve themselves in the development of the economy.