Nigeria Content Online

As Nigeria marks its 50th anniversary, Archbishop
Nicholas Okoh, the Primate of All Nigeria, Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion), has advised the federal government to avoid extravagant spending.

Mr. Okoh, in an interview with journalists in
Abuja, criticised the N6 billion proposed by the government for the 50th
independence anniversary celebration. He advised that instead of huge spending
on the event, money should be channelled to remarkable development projects
that would remain after the celebration.

“If the money is meant for squandermania, it does
not worth it at all,” he said, and called for reflection on how well the
country had fared during its 50 years of self-governance. He urged the
government to rather control and develop the solid materials base adequately
while making effort to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

According to Mr Okoh, efforts should also be intensified in developing
mechanised agriculture and farm settlements in different states to absorb
drifting youths and empower them to contribute to society.

He further deplored incessant power outage, the lack of well organised
public transportation system and high rate of unemployment as well as poverty
in the society. “Corruption is still growing in all segments of the society,
leaving the most vulnerable completely dispossessed,” he said.