Abakaliki, Nigeria – Some Stakeholders in economy and education sub-sectors in Ebonyi say “achieving a new Nigeria is possible,” urging the three tiers of government to strengthen policies that can promote the nation’s locally-made goods.
The stakeholders made the assertion in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, on Thursday, Day One of the 10-Day nationwide protest to end hunger and bad governance.
They called for the establishment of a price control Board to regulate market forces across the country.
Prof Ikechukwu Igwenyi, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) chapter, noted that reforming the banks was also important to bring the interest rate down to a single digit.
According to Igwenyi, stabilising the economy can provide the ambience for ease of doing business in the country and hunger will varnish.
“There is need to provide the ambience for local production, encourage local producers and discourage wastages on foreign goods.
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“We should stop investing billions of dollars in importing Toyota SUVs and other pleasure cars when we have Innoson Motors that competes in all considerations and standards with those foreign-manufactured vehicles.
“We have ANAMCO at Enugu and Peugeot automobile in Kaduna that are all moribund. Ajokuta steel rolling mill would have provided all the fabricated components we need for metal works and manufacturing.
“All our Rivers are filled with sand for glass manufacture, yet there is no functional glass manufacturing company in Nigeria. The last one I saw folding up during my National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme was in Niger State.
“Let’s patronise INNOSON Motors as our official carrier vehicle and find a way to revitalize PEUGEOT and ANAMCO and our economy will begin to grow,” Igwenyi added.
Dr Emmanuel Okorie, an Economist, decried the slow growth in youths and human capital development, urging the federal and state governments to prioritise youths engagement.
“There are a lot of man powers wasting on the streets, especially the youths. The nation has come of age and we must stand on the good policies that can bring the change that we need.
“The farmers are no where to be found due to insecurity. If insecurity is tackled farmers will go back to their farms to produce more food. There is need to set price control to regulate cost of goods in the market,” Okorie advised.
Mrs Nkechi Nwankwor, a retired Teacher, said that the nation could be better but blamed the government on the high cost of living in the country.
Nwankwor urged the federal and state governments to focus on policies to achieve sustainable development of the economy.
On the nationwide hunger protest, she urged the protesters to stear clear of violence.
However, there was no protest in Abakaliki as markets and shops opened for business.
At some major markets, including, Kpirikpiri and International markets,
traders were fully on ground and there were vehicular movement on all major streets in the capital city.
