Economic Recovery Plan: Avoid Technicality, Pursue Visible Recovery, NGO Tells FG.

A Non-governmental Organisation(NGO), Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative(ADAPHAI) has charged the Federal Government to embark on real and visible economic recovery, and shun technicality, to turn around the lives of millions of Nigerians.

The organisation through it’s Executive Director, Mr Ajibola Olaniyi made the call on Thursday, in Osogbo, saying the approach adopted by the Federal Government in fighting Boko Haram, which has resulted to technical defeat of the insurgents with resultant effect of serial suicide bombings and constant attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives is “practically not the best”.

Olaniyi averred that the president should finetune a different and more pragmatic vigour in pursuing the proposed economic plan in a way that the long run effect on the generality of Nigerians would be real and visible for all to see and appreciate, and not paper-tiger type of policy.

According to him, the rejuvenation of  macroeconomic environment as planned in the recovery plan must be strategically marched with serious microeconomic resuscitation through involvement of experts in prioritising a viable economic model like” Comparative Cost Advantage ” .

He maintained that such an economic model gives opportunities to all communities to contribute their quotas to the National economy, in line with the embedded resources in that area.

The Peace Advocate explained that the proposed economic plan must be all-inclusive in its scope, and cut across all classes of economic activities if the government is truly serious about the development of local content as reported.

Olaniyi emphasised the urgent need to redesign agricultural development module that brings all necessary components together in the sector, and ultimately guarantee food security.

He argued that the present farming system that is largely subsistence, coupled with scarce farm inputs despite acclaimed government’s intervention, and the nagging insecurity in many Nigerian farms as a result of armful herdsmen portend serious threat to food security in Nigeria. In his words, the recovery economic plan must take cognisance of the significant place of agriculture as the cornerstone of the country’s Gross Domestic Product aside oil.

Olaniyi however faulted the proposed increase in the Gross Domestic Product(GDP) by 7 per cent and reduction in the unemployment rate from 30 per cent to 11 per cent, saying the plan should be strengthened enough to jack up the GDP above that, and make unemployment a single digit.

“Suffice it to say that the Federal Government’s economic recovery plan is long overdue, but invariably not too late, if there is  genuine political will to hit the ground running with the acclaimed vigour.

” In as much as I commend the President for the courage to fight insurgency, the result of the  much talked about technical defeat of Boko Haram is not in the best interest of many Nigerians, going by the experience of the people of North Eastern Nigeria in the hands of insurgents afterwards, which technically put a question mark before “technical defeat” of the group. This approach should not be used in tackling Nigerian economic challenge.

“The economic model for recovery from recession should be pragmatic enough to make the impacts more visible and laudable, beyond Newspapers’ achievement, one that have a  positive effect on every category of citizenry in the long run.

” The recovery plan must be made to reform public sector optimally and make it functional as an engine room of the government in the area of policy formulation and implementation. Additionally, a  viable middle class must be built to  drive the economy.

“You will agree with me that agriculture remains the most reliable sector in the consideration of boosting the GDP, being the mainstay of our economy before the discovery of oil so, certain proactive measures should be taken to reposition it for genuine recovery.

” We have said it times without number that the idea of Farm Settlement should be reintroduced, where comfortable abodes would be provided for farm workers in the farms, with modern facilities  for the purpose of making farms more attractive to the youth, and facilitate massive participation in the sector.

“Also, the menace of Herdsmen-Farmers clash must be taken seriously, and tackle headlong, to make farms safe for farmers and increase productivity, aside the urgent need to institutionalise mechanised farming,” he concluded.