As Nigeria marks its 61st Independence Anniversary, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, CCSOs, in Katsina State says, it is disturbed by the level of poverty and hunger, caused by unemployment and high cost of living, which is making it difficult for the majority of Nigerians to afford even two meals per day.
In a statement by the Chairman of the Coalition, Abdulrahman Abdullahi, the Coalition is also calling on the Federal Government, to as a matter of urgency and in the spirit of the celebration, complete the 10 megawatts Lambar Rimi Windmill Power Project in the state.
According to the Coalition, the project has taken a longer time than expected.
It is, therefore, calling on the Federal Ministry of Power, to expedite action, towards the completion of the project, so that it can serve the purpose it is meant for.
They also called on the Federal Ministry of Transport, Works, and Housing to expedite action on the Kano-Katsina Road Project, which it said, work is very slow and quite disappointing.
Abdullahi further said they are worried about the prices of basic essential commodities which have become high.
He said, it has in most cases, led to citizens’ involvement in criminalities, though not a justified reason.
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He, is, therefore, calling on the government to do everything possible, to bring down the cost of living in the country, especially the cost of foodstuff, so that Nigerians will be able to feed themselves.
In its suggestion, the coalition said, it is mindful of the good intention of this administration by banning food importation, especially rice, and advised that it should be lifted, as an interim measure, to bring down the soaring costs of foodstuffs.
While commending the state government in its efforts towards ensuring peace and stability, the coalition called on it to join the Open Government Partnership, OGP, like other states of the federation.
Abdullahi further commended the state government for the full implementation of the Child Protection Law, to mitigate the cases of Child Rights abuses in the state.
The Coalition also called on the government to make more efforts on boosting the Internally Generated Revenue, to reduce overdependence on the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, by focusing more attention on agricultural development in the state, for the promotion of food security and employment generation to our teeming unemployed youths.
(Editor : Paul Akhagbemhe)
