#TrackNigeria The Jama’tul Nasril Islam (JNI), on Monday tasked government at all levels to set practical and achievable targets that would propel Nigeria’s growth and development.
Also, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State chapter, said leaders must strive in making Nigeria a country where citizens are happy and united.
The two religious bodies gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, on Nigeria’s 59th independence.
Dr Khalid Aliyu, Secretary General of JNI, noted that though Nigeria had recorded numerous achievements, “but we are not yet there.”
“Government at all level must set practical and achievable targets in order to belong to the comity of developed and prosperous nations.
“Of course, it is a joyous moment in the history of our liberation and freedom, but which requires from discerning minds introspection and sober reflection.”
Aliyu said, “so far so good, but we have very daunting challenges ahead which required sacrifices in nation building, commitment and selflessness, which are becoming far from all the strata of the governmental and community levels.
“We need to improve in almost all sectors of the economy, security, health, education, peaceful coexistence.
“We need to restore infrastructure to world standard, create jobs and provide ways and means for creating wealth to the citizenry.”
He added that the hydra headed scourge of corruption must also be fought by all and sundry.“Of course kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, laundering, internet fraud, various forms of scams must be vigorously fought.“We must have timeline for stopping these scourges.” he said.Also, the state CAN Chairman, Rev John Hayab said though,“things have not been smooth in our country but we still should thank God and be happy at 59.” If we refused to find reasons to celebrate then our sorrows will have no limits.”He said, “we need to improve our security, too many innocent lives are lost daily and nobody is either forced to resign or punished for that crime or negligence.“We need to honestly do something about job creation.“We have a very high percentage of people not working and some of them who are not patient to wait are moving out of the country and in their efforts to get rich quickly are doing things that are giving our country a bad name.“We need to work hard to unite our country. There is so much division and negative suspicions of one another.”Hayab stressed that it was “only when we truly love and care for one another, will we see or expect patriotism from our citizens.”According to him, achievements recorded since independence are always covered with too much controversies.“Some of the visible achievements always never last. If you celebrate them today they are used against you tomorrow.“We have created institutions like EFCC, ICPC, but what have they brought to us, they have further created more questions than answers to our fight against corruption.”“I therefore wish to challenge our leaders and all citizens to join hand to make this country what God wants her to be.Nigeria going forward should be a country where citizens should be happy and united.” he said.(NAN)
