Although the Federal Government has prioritised the issues of agriculture, war against corruption, and employment generation to ensure development in 2016, there are a lot of other priorities Nigeria needs to feed her booming population and take her place on the continental and global states. To get to this lofty height, what is your own development priority for this country, and why your particular choice?
ABIMBOLA AKOSILE
* I am a believer in agricultural development. A country like Israel has agriculture as their major development priority. Why can’t we borrow a leaf from them?
– Pst. Obinna Osagu, Akure, Ondo State
* For me the development priority is power, power and more power. This will impact positively on SMEs, industries will increase their productive power to the optimum, artisans, fashion designers and all those who depend on electricity will have readily available power at a very reasonable rate. This will translate to more people being gainfully employed and Nigeria will be better for it.
– Prof. Kate Nwufo, mni, Abuja
* Power supply.
– Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State
* Government should see that all regulatory agencies in Nigeria are efficient and reliable. All Ministers should make use of ICT by creating quick feedback mechanism where Nigerians can report bad services to them and get quick solutions to their problems.
– Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, Change Makers Forum & CDHR, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State
* My development priority for Nigeria is to be agriculture-focused. Under this we shall never have shameless thieves as we have in the oil industry.
– Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna
* Taxation needs to be prioritised and stepped up urgently. Our national finances will improve excellently if we explore the tax sector positively; especially in the face of ailing oil prices and economy.
– Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State
* Nothing builds a nation like infrastructure. It provides immediate employment for the labourers, technicians and engineers working on various sites. If it is the type of infrastructure such as rail, road, and power infrastructure, it will create even more permanent jobs. Infrastructure can fight corruption; when the masses see the benefits of good governance, they will encourage the recovery of loot and reject corrupt leadership. Infrastructure has the capacity to bring in local and foreign investors. It also creates an avenue for boosting tourism as well as security through employment. The good thing with the right type of infrastructure is that it creates jobs from the start of the project and continues to provide jobs long after completion.
– Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State
* Fiscal federalism. Let’s put an end to the Father Christmas syndrome.
– Mr. Carl Chineme Okafor, Abuja
* Stable power supply will open up the economy. It will eradicate corruption because everyone we have jobs to do. Nobody will want to wait for any loot anywhere. Power will solve so many issues when fixed.
– Mrs. Funke Osae-Brown, Lagos
* Uninterrupted electricity supply is vital to rejuvenating the economy. When this happens, collapsed industries will resurrect. More companies will spring up. As it is now, many companies, particularly small and medium enterprises are struggling to remain in business due to over reliance on scarce and expensive petrol. If there is constant supply of electricity, money used to purchase fuel, diesel and service generating sets could be diverted to boosting trade. Many unemployed graduates have brilliant ideas on how to make ends meet but cost of having a back-up plan for power supply can be discouraging. Let there be regular electricity supply in all parts of the country for at least six months and watch real transformation unravel.
– Mrs. Rasheedat ILiyas, Lagos State
* If electricity is stable, roads are accessible and corruption is eradicated in our society, I believe our problem in Nigeria is 70 per cent solved.
– Mr. Taiwo Franklin Akinpelumi, Apapa, Lagos
* Agriculture is my priority. A well-fed populace is the first step towards real freedom and independence. Food breakthrough will genuinely eradicate all forms of social vices generally, corruption and insecurity directly and remotely. Nutritional diseases will be curtailed e.t.c and a better society will emerge. A man is actually what he eats. There is still dignity in labour. Let us produce and eat our own locally-produced foods to save Nigeria from our teeming youths’ possible future over-reaction and its multiplier effects e.t.c. due to various frustrations. We must rescue farming to rescue Nigeria now and urgently.
– Ms. Saiki Ometere Tina, Gboko, Benue State
* Power generation through biogas; we already dug a big soak-away for waste collection. Interested persons have started keying into the programme.
– Mrs. Aderonke Abimbola, Lagos
* Research is what we need urgently and now. Our technology and development depends on our quality of research. We must develop our own technology or steal it as the owners guard it religiously while pretending to transfer it falsely at a never redeemable price but they exploit the unsuspecting victim harshly. Invest massively into research and technical education and fabrication in all our schools. We must emphasise honesty, unity, loyalty and patriotism, and punish law contraveners. God bless Nigeria.
– Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State
* My development priority for Nigeria is simply functional education for all citizens. We need to take giant strides immediately. When we make a habit of emphasising ‘sabificate’ over certificate, then we shall be able to say functional education is thriving.
– Mr. Ekwenjo Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R., Apo, Abuja
* Nigerians support PMB’s government priorities to tackle the numerous problems we have been facing for years, irrespective of party differences. This is because if Nigeria is good today, everybody will enjoy it. We have resources to make Nigeria great but bad leadership has been the issue. The legislators are also behind the problem with what they are doing to the budget. We should hold them responsible if 2016 passes without good result because of their selfish aims.
– Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State
* We cannot continue as a nation to be dependent on importation of food at this time. Nigeria being the highest producer of cassava cannot continue to be a dumping ground for all manner of poisonous foods when we have the land, manpower, and resources to start with. Better to be late than never.
– Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna
* The major priority for Nigeria should be adequate power generation and supply. This would boost small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and create hundreds of thousands of jobs for the unemployed through revival of moribund industries and establishment of new ones. Imagine a Nigeria with a power supply of even 20,000 megawatts, compared to the miserable 3,000 megawatts we currently generate. Cottage industries would mushroom all over the place and there would be light everywhere. Agriculture should be the next major priority. Both issues would catapult Nigeria to the ideal destination in development.
– Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State
THE RESPONSE
Top priority: Power supply
Second: Improved agriculture
Third: Functional education
Radical tip: Steal technology!
Total no of respondents: 18
Male: 11
Female: 7
Highest location: Lagos (8)
Next Week: To Develop Nigeria, What Must Change First?
Although the present administration swept into power nearly a year ago on the promise of change for the better, many Nigerians are angry because the situation appears worse than before, in terms of governance. However, some analysts also believe that change doesn’t have to come from government alone, and that it involves everyone and everything for real development to occur. To you, what must change first for Nigeria to develop, and how?
Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (April 28 & Monday, May 2) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail.com, AND abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, May 5
