The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent actions in addressing security and economic issues in the country.
The President of the NBA, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), made the call during a press briefing on the state of the nation.
He said the country had been ravaged by bandits and terrorists and the scourge of kidnapping for ransom, noting that the control of parts of the country by criminals should be treated as a treasonable felony.
He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must show demonstrable commitment to prioritize the security of the lives and properties of Nigerians as already committed by him.
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“Government, through our Armed Forces and other security agencies, must ensure that no square inch of the Nigerian territory is left ungoverned: no part of Nigeria should be left under the control of criminal elements by whatever name so called.”
The association condemned the civilization of the Nigerian military through deployment in several theatres which, it said, was weakening the Nigeria Police in their traditional role.
On the economy, Maikyau blamed the woes on policy inconsistency which resulted in weakened economic fundamentals, including sluggish economic growth.
“The direct result of these is the low standard of living, alarming rate of poverty, high unemployment rate and the wide disparity in the socio-economic status of the Nigerian population,” he said.
The NBA recommended that the government urgently announce deadlines for specific fundamental economic steps to be taken towards economic recovery to enable all stakeholders assess the performance of government on its promises and a commitment to the diversification of the economy.
Speaking on the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership (ETIP) agreement signed between the federal government and the United Kingdo, Maikyau said despite the clarification by the Minister of Trade, Investment and Industries, Doris Uzoka-Anitie, opening Nigeria for practice for UK qualified lawyers was unpatriotic and uninformed.
