Tina Amanda
A Port Harcourt-based Economist, Dr Sylvanus Amadi has attributed the high level of inflation and unemployment which have caused economic hardships, to insecurity in the Country.
Speaking with our correspondent, Dr Amadi who is Head of Economics Department, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt, explained that as of the first quarter of the year 2021, the inflation level in Nigeria had risen to 18.17%.
According to him, the high rate of insecurity in the land has crumbled most economic activities, as investors, importers, farmers and business owners are being discouraged daily due to the unconducive economic climate.
“It is very clear that we have a high level of insecurity in Nigeria and it is worsening the economic climate. Agricultural activities have been seriously hampered on, most farmers can no longer go to farms. Even when they have planted, they can not harvest, there is a lot of killing and fear in the land.
“In the face of the situation, people can not confidently engage in their economic activities and measures put in place such as curfew to checkmate the insecurity also worsened economic activities by slowing it down.
“There is a high level of poverty, unemployment, the worst of it all is the high level of inflation, the situation has created harsh economic conditions for the people. If we want to have a good economic climate, more growth and development in Nigeria, the insecurity should be handled first, because everyone feels they are not safe to carry out economic activities”
Dr Amadi also suggested that government at all levels should make genuine efforts to fight banditry, Boko Haram and herdsmen, for the economic climate to thrive
“I will suggest the Nigerian government comes out boldly to fight insecurity, there is no serious effort made by the government to tackle insecurity. A country that is said to have one of the strongest Army in the world can not handle Boko Haram, banditry, killings in the country, then something is definitely wrong somewhere.
“It is either those in the helms of security affair are not tackling it properly or they’re compromising. If the Nigerian government shows genuine efforts to fight insurgency which has existed for over ten years, they will surely defeat Boko Haram.
“Security should not be Federal government affair only, states should come in the fight, state governors receive much money on security vote, what do they do with it? The federal government should allow states to have their own Security outfits, if there is any need for State Police, it is now in the face of so much insecurity.
“The state policing will allow States handle their insecurity issues since apparently, they know the people, but a situation where the federal government only handle’s the security affair is not good”
