Nigerians want Buhari to tackle security, economy, jobs

Security of lives and property, boost in the economy and job/wealth creation are the key among what Nigerians expect from President Muhammadu Buhari as he takes oath of office for a second term on Wednesday, May 29.

Other expectations are in the areas of renewed fight against corruption, improvement in agricultural production, education, infrastructure, roads, rail system and power.

Buhari, who is going for his second and last term in office, still has the chance to galvanise both the successes and

failures of his first tenure and provide purposeful leadership that could lead Nigeria out of the present socio-economic doldrums and place it on the path of sustainable development, according to analysts.

“As President Muhammadu Buhari gets sworn in for a second and final term on May 29, my expectation is that he ends up bequeathing a strong, stable and prosperous country which he promised. I expect that he focuses on creation of value-added economy that is driven by real and sustainable jobs in manufacturing and agricultural sectors,” said Christian Okeke, lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Okeke expressed sadness that Nigeria was beleaguered by incidences of hunger, poverty, unemployment, economic sabotage, kidnapping and other acts of vagabondage.

“Our global poverty ranking shows no sign of improvement even as millions still go to bed daily on empty stomach. In fact, lack of jobs and other pecuniary incentives continue to supply oxygen that sustains multiform varieties of national catastrophes. While insecurity and underdevelopment besetting the country show organic linkage with economic factors, conditions of human life in the country continue to grow worse,” he said.

“In order to make the desired impact in the next administration, therefore, President Buhari must have an immense focus on job creation across various initiatives. If our country is indeed to become economically sustainable, it clearly needs jobs. This will drive other development index and launch the country into becoming a strong economy,” he added.

Okeke said efforts must be made in the next four years to ensure that project choices are fundamentally pro-poor and capable of contributing to progressive and qualitative self-improvement of residents.

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