By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Gamji Members Association (GAMA) in Kwara State has called on the federal government to prioritise security and revamping of the economy in year 2024.

GAMA, in its new year message, said Nigerians deserve to live in any part of the country without the fear of being attacked by bandits and other criminals, adding that they are entitled to good living which can only be guaranteed by adequate security and prosperous economic policies.

The Association, which is committed to the promotion of the ideals of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, stressed the need for the security agencies to be proactive and work as a team to rid the nation of criminals.

In a statement signed by its President General, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde Akanbi and the Director of Publicity, Alhaji Abdullahi Olesin, GAMA stressed the need for the government to ensure that the nation’s borders are well manned to check the influx of arms and ammunition into the country.

While applauding the security operatives for their unrelenting efforts at fighting banditry and insurgency in some parts of the country, the Association made case for the welfare and proper training of the security agents for maximum effect in the fight against all forms of criminality in the country.

The Association advised the government to embark on viable and workable economic policies that will reduce the hardship the Nigerian masses are experiencing, emphasising that such economic policies should be ones with human face.

GAMA suggested massive farming by Nigerians as a solution to the high cost of foodstuff and poverty in the land.

“Once the government is able to fix security, it should encourage farmers to go into massive farming in the new planting season to ensure abundant crops production, food security and sufficiency.

“Government should also set up a task force that will check arbitrary increase in the prices of foodstuff and other commodities in the country,” GAMA added.

The Association, which asked the federal government to leverage on the revamped Port Harcourt refinery to reduce the price of petroleum products in the country, also called for the resuscitation of the remaining nation’s refineries.

“The federal government should ensure that all its agreements with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are met without further delay to avoid industrial strike, while state governments should also redeem their own sides of agreement they reached with the organised labour.

“We also appeal to the opposition not to overheat the polity but rather should join hands and support the government at all levels to succeed for the benefit of all of usgge don’t have another country than Nigeria .

“Governments at all levels should guide against embarking on frivolous projects that do not have direct impact on the citizens while the anti-graft agencies should be proactive in the discharge of their duties and expose all those behind the looting of the nation’s treasury.

“Due to the high cost of air fares, the government should embark on massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, which presently could best be described as death traps,” GAMA said.