FG plan to loan $800m from worldbank as palliative for 50m poor Nigerians is unfounded – Iche
By Onome Naomi
Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, founder of Ambassadors For Peace and Enlightenment Foundation (AMPEF) remains poignant on governmental policies and decisions which he described as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
He said the recent economic crisis will only worsen with the proposed plan of the federal govt to get a loan of $800m from world bank as palliative for 50million poor Nigerians which is unfounded. This government has barely one month to hand power over to the incoming government, and as such has no need for an additional loan to previously existing unpaid loans amounting to trillions of naira incurred during President Mohammadu Buhari’s 8yrs of reign while the rate of poverty in Nigeria has unimaginably risen.
Iche stated that Nigeria is one of the poorest country in the world yet has various natural resources that could enrich its citizens. When this administration was to take over power, they campaigned by giving false promises and hopes.One of their numerous lies is: Giving the youths who are unemployed stipends to survive before availability of jobs. The government supposedly used billions of naira to feed Nigerian children during the lock down only in the North not Nigerian children in general.
Speaking as an advocate for the people to be their voice and also as the National President Association of Micro Entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Comrade Iche expressed astonishment at FGN meander as to how these 50m poor Nigerians was ascertained, By what standard will be the mode in selection of the 50million poor Nigerians as estimated? The FGN has no shame in its dealings, he quipped.
Iche suggested that the FGN should Instead create empowerment program to counter the rise of poverty rather than loan huge amounts to supposedly feed the people. He says getting the loan is a way to divert funds for personal interest thereby surmounting loans in wait for the new administration which is very disturbing decision. Nigerian is ranking top in debt amongst countries, a reason why China has refused borrowing Nigeria money.
My question is:
What do they need this much money for?
Whom did they government spend it on?
For all the borrowings, there has been no visible usage as expected.
Nigeria based on calculation is above 200m, and just 1% of this count is rich and they are politicians, so now this 50m people calculated to be impoverished what’s going to be the sharing formula to help these Nigerians? How is the government going to alliviate poverty if the beneficiary is not productive?Iche questioned.
He further said the government should look beyond wasting funds on importation but should be a producer of product as a way of subsistence.The resources can be invested in the youths to acquire skills through skill acquisition programs, the unemployed can have productive skills to start their own business and be employers of Labour. The incoming government at the helm of affairs should advance the economy from the Era of consumption to production.
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Comrade Iche concluded his summation on government’s inappropriate decision by discrediting the true intentions of the $800m loan, he says the borrowed money is a way to siphon cash. Efcc should be ready to arrest and probe Buhari’s administration to the latter from top to bottom at the instance of handover,we can’t be in a country where we only hear billions of dollars has been given to poor people yet poverty prevails and increases. If we must loan money at all it should be used to equip Nigerian youths by creating skill acquision centres where people can get handwork or skill to be employers of Labour instead of waiting to be employed, Iche stated.
