PLEASE spare me some space in your widely read newspaper, THE NIGERIA STANDARD, to express my feelings on some current happenings in the country.
Nigeria is the giant of Africa for a reason. Its vast land and various cultures are some of the things that make it to be reckoned with. A country with a population of over 200 million inhabitants and huge resources is expected to flourish.
But, sadly, the high levels of insecurity and abductions that have bedeviled the country have become matters of great concern. In recent times, the activities of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen have slowed the wheel of progress of the country.
The abduction of the Chibok and Dapchi girls and other school children (including the most recent one in Kaduna State) are a source of great concern. These challenges have made Nigeria one of the most dangerous places to raise a child in the whole world.
One begins to wonder if the insurgents are ghosts that cannot be seen with ordinary eyes or if their activities are sponsored for political and selfish reasons. Why do they seem to disappear into thin air whenever security operatives come to the scene of such attacks? In some cases, they raid communities for many hours and no one dares them.
During the recent attacks in Mangu and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau State, the residents were just left at the mercy of God, with little coming from the security agencies. Leaders of tomorrow were killed and burned to ashes. Foodstuff cultivated and harvested were also burnt, leaving the people to wallow in abject poverty. Sadly, little children were turned to orphans, husbands turned to widowers and wives to widows as a result of the unfortunate mayhem.
Should we keep on being silent and allow all of these evil people invade our land? The government has a very big and important role to play in stemming the madness of insurgency. It is high time stringent measures are taken to curb this evil. Why would an ex-convict or terrorist be accommodated by government for being repentant and become critical member of top security agencies while our young and vibrant youths are left jobless with no means of livelihood?
Also, our state borders must be secured to reduce the influx of criminals who disguise themselves as traders. Jobs should be provided for our teeming youths. This will curb their recruitment into terrorist gangs or organizations.
Sadly, the number of internally displaced persons are on the increase. Some are dying as a result of hunger and other ailments. This does not speak well for a country as rich as ours. We must stand up and unite as patriotic Nigerians to fight all the evils that lead to insurgency.
Narin Sati, Angwan Rukuba, Jos, Plateau State
Let’s keep Nigeria clean
MOST Nigerian cities can best be described as being very dirty. Therefore, the big question is, how do we clean all the mess?
Maintaining cleanliness in Nigeria is crucial for public health, environmental sustainability and national development. A clean environment reflects a prosperous and healthy society. However, pervasive corruption and political crises have hindered Nigeria’s efforts toward achieving and maintaining environmental cleanliness.
Many citizens are dying because they lack proper basic hygiene and healthcare facilities where they live. It is the responsibility of government to ensure that citizens have basic healthcare services. Many areas require well-constructed drainages to check erosion and seasonal flooding.
Unfortunately, corruption is widespread in Nigeria. This has led to the mismanagement of public resources and the neglect of environmental initiatives. Embezzlement of public money, bribery and nepotism have eroded public trust in governments and undermined efforts to keep our environment clean.
The diversion of funds meant for waste management, sanitation and general cleanliness has resulted in inadequate services and poor maintenance of facilities. This has contributed to the rise in waste pollution in most of our communities.
Bribery, tax evasion, illegal waste disposal and non-compliance with environmental regulations degrade the environment and promotes culture of lawlessness and impunity.
The rampant dumping of refuse in gutters, on roads and in our surroundings does not help matters. We should learn how to dispose waste in hygienic ways because doing otherwise can be an easy way to contact diseases.
The right policies can help improve the level of cleanliness in our society. This should also be part of our culture and way of life.
Solome Jiya, Jos
