By Daniel Kanu
Assistant Politics Editor
World Bank consultant and Provost, Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu (ASCETA), Dr Phillip Ntoh, has said that unless quick interventions both short- term and long-term measures were strategically and consciously put in place the plight of Nigerians would be worse next year.
His verdict is not unconnected with the grave security challenge in the North-East where food production had been adversely affected by the Boko Haram terrorists and the herdsmen onslaught.
The former Abia State commissioner for finance told The Niche that the inability of the federal government to diversify the economy has continued to pose great danger on the poor condition of Nigerians.
He said that if all the endowments of the country both natural and human were properly harnessed by its leadership there would be no reason for the poverty the people were experiencing.
His words: “Nigerians should expect harder time next year. This is because the areas where we usually get enough food are deep in crisis with both Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen terrorizing the region (North East).
“Majority of the farmers have fled the region and so if they are not producing this year it means next year will be tough. What we are eating today was the effort they put up last year; so there is danger ahead.
“Had it been we have a diversified economy when the crude oil is not working, agriculture is working, when agriculture is not working then solid mineral is working as well as other sectors. But when everything revolves on crude oil, it’s an invitation to disaster waiting in the wings of time.
“From what we can see government does not seem to be doing much to revive the economy towards the part of growth because a situation where the emphasis is being majorly placed on how to increase oil production, everything only on oil, then I don’t think there is prospect in that direction.
“I see a situation where the country will run into deeper problem next year because there will be hunger in the land.
“I am saying this because of the serious security challenge we are having. The North-East has been devastated and this has horribly affected food production and food security. Government need to act fast and know what to do to address the situation else Nigerians will live to regret the hunger and pain to be experienced next year.
“I still believe that government needs a wider consultation to know the right thing to do. We may be deceiving ourselves if we think we are getting it right. No, we are not.”