Calabar – Residents of Calabar have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to focus his administration on agriculture, rural infrastructure and power in 2016.
A cross section of the residents gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Wednesday.
Mr Cletus Obun, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River, said the government should focus attention on agriculture and rural infrastructure in the new year.
Obun said that rural roads, water supply and electricity would enhance transportation of agricultural products, as well as reduce diseases associated with rural dwellers.
“This will also reduce rural urban migration. It will create more jobs and enhance mass production in the agricultural sector.
“Provision of agricultural inputs to farmers at little or no costs will be the key to massive food production and reduce dependence on importation of certain food items,‘’ he said.
According to him, opening of rural roads will create more businesses in the rural areas, adding that this will reduce the pressure on the urge for white collar jobs by youths.
An Electrical Engineer, Mr Udom Nelson, urged the Federal Government to give priority to the power sector in 2016.
Nelson said that the power sector held the key to the current economic woes facing the country.
“When you get the power sector right, all other things will fall into place.
“When there is constant power, there will be job creation; people can generate jobs on their own. The artisans will work; industries will function very well, ‘’ he said.
He said that no amount of effort to create jobs in Nigeria would work without an efficient power sector.
“It is good that the president promised to create 500,000 teaching jobs for Nigerians in his 2016 Budget estimate.
“However, in a situation where the same government is complaining of spending so much on re-current expenditure, I think the best thing is to ensure that the power sector works.
“This will ensure that the private sector becomes the real shock absorber in job creation, ‘’ Udom said.
Mr Ekpo Archibong, a civil servant, called on the government to address the rural infrastructure across the country.
He said that many communities in Nigeria lacked access roads, adding that this was partly responsible for rural-urban migration across the country.
“Build roads and connect the rural communities with the National Grid so that people can stay comfortably in their areas.
“This will also enable retired civil servants to set up businesses in their rural communities and stay close to their people,‘’ he said.
A restaurant operator, Mrs Ann Nwachukwu, advised the government to ensure constant power supply in the New Year.
“My own problem is light; I want constant light so that my drinks will be cool all the time to serve my customers.
“I spend so much money on petrol for my generator set and this affects my daily income, ‘’ she said. (NAN)
