Connect with us

National News

Inflation, Insecurity, Fuel Scarcity, Others Bane Of Nigeria’s Economic Growth

Published

on

Eid-El-Kabir Celebration: FG Declares Monday, Tuesday Public Holiday

Inflation, Insecurity, Fuel Scarcity, Others Bane Of Nigeria’s Economic Growth

By: Michael Mike

The President Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Akin Oyegbola, has blamed the nation’s economic stunted growth on the nation’s high inflation, insecurity the incessant fuel scarcity.

He stated this during a press conference at the second APBN 2022, second board meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja

Oyegbola said, companies and factories have or are on the verge of shutting down as a result of the high cost of fuel.

He said: “In recent months, we have experienced Continiuos astronomical increase in the cost of diesel (AGO), as well as scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), in some major cities. While we have no problem with the excuse offered by the government for cause of the scarcity and price hike, its effect on the economy can only be imagined. This re-emphasises the need for local production of petroleum products. We must revive our refineries. We believe this is the way out of the incessant cases of petrol scarcity.

“The economic loses due to high cost of diesel is massive. Inflation is very high, many companies, factories and airlines have or are at the verge of shutting down due to unsustainable cost of fuel.”

Oyegbola lamented the free fall of the Naira and the security situation and their impacts on the nation’s economy.

“The issue of insecurity has remained major concern to us. You would recall that one of the issues that came up at the board’s last meeting, and which formed a major thrust of board’s last deliberations; because of the seeming I tractability of this issue. The nation’s economy is being stunted, and may not attract the much needed investments as long as there are these palpable feelings of insecurity in the land. The board urges the board urges the federal government to sustain its onslaught against bandits, kidnappers and criminal elements across the country.

Also Read: NYSC D-G seeks increased support for trust fund

“The free fall of the Naira against the dollar. While we are aware that the government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is doing its best to get the Naira stable, we see the situation as a very worrisome one.”

He used the opportunity to call both the federal and state governments to engage APBN members in the development of the nation. “Any economy that that wants to develop must find a way to enlisting the services of its professionals. We believe the Nigerian governments (National and Sub-nationals), are not doing that enough. The board will, therefore, will like to use the to call on those in government to begin to look inwards for assistance. APBN boast of an array of qualified professionals that can rub shoulders with their peers anywhere in the world, and we are very ready for national assignments.”

On diversifying the nation’s economy he said Nigeria must move from mere slogans to practicalisation of  slogans 

In his explanations; APBN is an association of 30 Nigerian professional bodies. It is apolitical but a pressure of professionals, who expect their individual members to be political in order to make the changes that will bring integrity to the system.

He also said the challenges being faced by the nation today didn’t start with the current administration; they’re not expecting the current administration to sanitiser the system with less than a year left.

Inflation, Insecurity, Fuel Scarcity, Others Bane Of Nigeria’s Economic Growth

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National News

FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

Published

on

FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

** As VP Shettima demands urgent action to bridge nation’s skills gap

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for immediate and united action to close Nigeria’s widening skills gap, describing it as a national priority critical to economic transformation.

This is just as the federal government has hinted at a proposal for the review of existing skills training centres across several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to align their work and functions with national development goals.

The Vice President, who spoke on Thursday during the 6th meeting of the National Council on Skills (NCS) at the Presidential Villa, noted that the council’s mandate is to develop a strategic workforce capable of meeting Nigeria’s evolving economic demands.

“What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. We have to make this country work. We need to fill in the skills gap,” he said.

VP Shettima pointed out that the council has a mission to strategically position Nigeria’s workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.

“This council was established with a clear mandate to drive the strategic development of the skilled workforce that can contribute meaningfully to national growth and prosperity,” he added.

The Vice President described the session as an open forum where positions were aired and important decisions were taken, emphasising that stakeholder engagement, consensus-building, and decisive leadership are essential to fixing Nigeria’s skills and employment crisis.

A major highlight of the meeting was the proposal for a National Skills Infrastructure Audit to create a centralised database of all training facilities, verify their functionality, and identify gaps or overlaps in infrastructure.

“The government’s policy trajectory is to strengthen human capital development for national growth and industry through skills development. However, unless the skills infrastructure across MDAs is optimised, this vision will remain unattainable,” the council noted.

The audit will also involve physical verification of centres and a detailed cataloguing of operational training facilities, ensuring alignment with national occupational standards and labour market needs.

Earlier, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa made a presentation on the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), an initiative aimed at training 10,000 artisans annually in high-demand construction trades.

The programme is designed to formalise Nigeria’s informal artisan sector by providing certification and onboarding qualified artisans onto a Digital Artisan Marketplace.

“The overall goal of NASAP is to establish a reliable and competent artisan workforce to drive the Ministry’s housing and infrastructure agenda while empowering Nigeria’s youth with employable skills,” the Minister said.

He noted that NASAP seeks to tackle youth unemployment while simultaneously addressing the skilled labour shortage in the construction sector, just as he said it is projected to have a significant impact on both job creation and long-term infrastructure development.

FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

Continue Reading

National News

Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

Published

on

Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe have intercepted a truck loaded with suspected vandalised iron railway sleepers and arrested eight suspects, including five personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), during a targeted operation in Katarko area of Gujba Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation, which took place on July 8 at about 4:00 p.m., followed credible intelligence about the movement of vandalised railway materials.

The truck, was intercepted while en route to Damaturu. A Hilux vehicle marked NSCDC CD 234 A, believed to be providing escort for the illegal consignment, was also impounded.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the railway materials were vandalised from a section of the tracks around Kukuwa, also in Gujba LGA.

Further findings revealed that the arrested NSCDC officers were allegedly invited by the vandals to provide safe passage in exchange for monetary compensation.

A cash sum of ₦128,500, believed to be proceeds of the illegal escort, was recovered from one of the NSCDC officers. The money was reportedly concealed in his inner clothing.

The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Damaturu for further investigation. An anti-bomb squad has also been directed to sweep the recovered materials to ensure public safety.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing and all those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.

Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

Continue Reading

National News

NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

Published

on

NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decried the rising incident of human rights violation in the country, stating that last alone over 320,000 cases were reported across the country.

Speaking during the presentation of June 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu said: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.”

He lamented that: “Every month, when we gather to present this human rights dashboard, we are confronted with a sobering reality of the lived realities of those affected by violence, injustice, discrimination, and systemic neglect. These numbers compel us to reflect deeply on our collective responsibility and ask ourselves the difficult question: Are we doing enough? The events of June 2025 demand not just reflection, but an honest and urgent response.”

He said: “Last month, Nigeria witnessed a harrowing surge in violent attacks, with devastating consequences for affected communities and our national conscience. Among the most tragic incidents were the brutal assaults on the Yelewata and Dauda communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 innocent lives were lost. These were not mere figures on a report; they were fathers, mothers, children, and breadwinners; families torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and futures extinguished in moments of senseless brutality.

“Equally alarming is the rising trend of attacks against law enforcement and local security forces. In Kaduna and Niger States, more than 17 soldiers were killed in coordinated attacks, further destabilizing already fragile regions. Equally distressing was the massacre of over 40 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ruggar Chida, brave individuals who stood on the frontlines to protect their communities, only to pay the ultimate price.

“Their deaths leave a void in local security structures, rendering civilians even more exposed to further violence.”

Ojukwu noted that: “The wave of insecurity plaguing our highways has also intensified. In June alone, more than 50 travellers were abducted along major transit routes in Kogi and Benue States. These are not isolated criminal acts; they represent a direct assault on the fundamental rights to freedom of movement, economic participation, and personal dignity. These abductions inflicts lasting trauma on victims and their families while further eroding public trust in the safety of our roads. This pattern of violence marked by impunity, fear, and systemic failure highlights a grave deficit in protection and accountability.”

He added that: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.

“To the government, we reiterate the need for decisive and coordinated security interventions. To civil society and the media, we urge sustained advocacy and amplification of these issues. To our development partners, we call for strengthened collaboration in addressing the root causes of these issues. This dashboard must not merely serve as a record of tragedies; it must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change.

“Let us never forget; every complaint documented, every statistic recorded in these dashboards represents a Nigerian citizen, a fellow human being seeking justice, safety, and the fulfilment of their basic rights.

“The National Human Rights Commission remains unwavering in its mandate to promote, protect, and enforce human rights across Nigeria. We will forge ahead with purposeful and sustained action.”

NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights