As a popular saying goes,
"If wishes were horses then beggars could ride", but wishes are not
horses. Yet we cannot stop wishing. If only what we wish for will come to pass
then 2017 will be a better year.
2016 prove to be a
difficult year to many Nigerians, while to some, it was their best year ever.
We all have our different expectations from the Government in terms of health,
education, employment and reduction in the prices goods and services among
others. So, if the quality of life of many Nigerians was affected in 2016, then
what will be their expectations in 2017? Tozali crew went to town to sample
opinions on expectations come 2017; responses below.
Keziah Koni Sambo
The thing is that prices
of goods everyday is on the increase. For example, a bag of rice has doubled
its price. Also palm oil, groundnut oil, indomie, beans, in short name it, all
have increased. Everything is expensive and the income is still the same,
without any increment. I am pleading with the government to look on the masses
and create ways for the prices of goods and services to come down; and they
should regulate the prices in the market. I also expect the government to look
into the issue of security in 2017, because the rate at which people are being
killed and kidnapped is getting out of hand. Therefore, I plead again with the
government to employ and train more security personnel.
Peace Kukah
The prices of goods today
in the market have more than doubled, everything has increased; even chewing
gum is now #10, matches now sell for #10 and so many others. Even though we
still have hope in this government, even with the hardship in 2016, we expect
that 2017 should be better. Meanwhile as Nigerians, we always have high
expectations when it comes to federal government, neglecting the common fact
that the issue of bribery and corruption, sabotage of government efforts, abuse
of government offices, and lack of patriotism can influence our expectations.
This 2017 from the mental point of view, one can say there will be improvement
in agriculture sector, increase in job opportunities for the over populated
unemployed youths, improvement in education sector as many programs are being
implemented to correct the crippled value of education system in Nigeria.
Nigerians are very good in creativity and productivity, but what we lack is the
facilities needed to boost local production. In line with this, come 2017,
government should equip our industries with the needed equipment so that other
neighboring countries can buy from us, instead of us always buying from them.
Another pressing issue
government should look into is unemployment, with the Npower program in play we
should be looking at a step forward in reducing the number of unemployed
graduates in the country.
The greatness of this
country does not only depend upon the above mentioned facts, but rather our
patriotic attitude towards sacrificing our selfish decisions, judgments and desires
to support the federal government of
Nigeria in its fight for a better and greater Nigeria. He who fights and run
lives to fight another day, change begins from you and me; changing your
personal attitude and negativity towards Nigeria will have a great influence in
Nigeria come 2017.
Amos Mshelia
What I think is needed to
be done by government in 2017, is to focus solely on infrastructural
development, this is the basics for development and growth. There are many
factors which affect or hinder productions and services. Inadequate
infrastructure e.g. hospitals, road network and power etc in a country can
limit the growth of many company. For a country like Nigeria, infrastructures
need to be made available in the coming year; it will go a long way in reducing
the running cost of production and services in most firms, leading to
manufacturing of goods and services at cheaper rates. Another point is youth
empowerment program that is N power currently going on. Then, Buhari should
reshuffle his cabinet.
Hannah Malgwi
What Nigerians really wish
to see improve to move the country forward in 2017 is progressive development
like our economy, education, health, agriculture, social welfare and security.
These need to be given proper consideration in order to ensure that the elusive
well being of our people is achieved. I will keep and never get tired of
reiterating this fact; Nigeria will never make substantial progress until we
upgrade our educational sector. Just imagine how many billions of dollars
Nigeria would save on foreign education if we can improve the quality at home
drastically. Federal government owes a duty to see the proper educational
advancement and development of its children. Health they say is wealth, Nigeria
would do extremely well if we can return to the days of old when medical
facilities were world class. The government should be able to complete teaching
hospitals projects, provide new hospital beds, distribute enough facilities;
with this one our country will fully and gloriously work for improvement of the
lives of its people. On the contrary, our airports remain horrible; where there
is work in progress like the extension at the Nnamdi Azikwe International
Airport Abuja and Murtala Mohammed International airport Lagos, the work has
been so slow. This is not good enough for our country; something must be done
in 2017 to stop this disgrace. The airport is always the first point of contact
with most countries for visitors and investors. In my own view I'm sure the
federal government can achieve this in 2017 if they put into consideration,
because I know Nigeria has enough resources to achieve this.
Abdulnaseer Bobboji
I want the value of naira
to be restored. And government should provide all the necessary incentives and
support needed to consolidate farming to thrive in the country. To me, the
greatest achievement of the Buhari administration is the fact that people have
come to terms with the reality that our latent and hidden treasures are in
agriculture not oil. In my community for instance, some of our millionaire
friends at present virtually relocated to their farms in the village for dry
season farming. This is indeed unprecedented. The story is virtually the same
all over. Many more are interested to key into agriculture hence; government
should remain focused and consistent.
By: Mercy Kukah
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