Setting agenda for 2026: Safety, poverty discount high Nigerians’ calls for

Nigerians throughout main sectors have set agenda for President Bola Tinubu, state governors, members of the Nationwide Meeting, amongst different strata of political management within the nation, in direction of attaining higher residing circumstances within the New Yr.

They warned that with out intentional efforts by political leaders to show a brand new leaf, shun corruption and embrace honesty, the hardship lots of them have been battling may not be resolved.

Given the present {economic} challenges, stakeholders argued that a few of the priorities of presidency in any respect ranges in 2026 needs to be on tips on how to increase safety and drive {economic} progress.

Of their separate interviews with THE POINT, related Nigerian stakeholders together with spiritual leaders and civil rights activists, expressed fear that insecurity and {economic} hardship have been nonetheless main challenges Nigerians have been contending with, calling on state actors to sort out the menace with all sincerity.

A group chief in Mbu-Akpoti, Isi-Uzo Native Authorities Space of Enugu State, Chief Anselem Onah, appealed for improved safety of lives and property of Nigerians.

“It’s a new yr and most Nigerians are within the habits of constructing New Yr resolutions. So, it isn’t misplaced if we draw the eye of our political leaders to pertinent wants of the residents.

“It’s apparent that we have to dwell first earlier than we are able to discuss of prospering. So, my cost to our leaders is for them to emplace safety of lives and property.

“Governments in any respect ranges want to indicate convincing dedication to residing by the oath of workplace they swore to uphold. Most vital of all these their constitutional duties is to guard lives and property of all residents. We have to see that occur in its fullest this yr. It needs to be a part of their key resolutions.

“One other space they need to deal with is financial system. Our financial system must be higher. Our residing requirements have to be improved. Authorities ought to actually sort out starvation. Our buying energy needs to be robust and that’s by way of the strengthening of naira. Authorities ought to draw buyers to the nation and guarantee {economic} diversification,” Onah appealed.

Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, urged political leaders to stimulate {economic} growth by way of attraction of investments and monetary self-discipline, noting that if issues have been executed the correct means, the residing requirements of Nigerians would enhance.

He stated, “Our political leaders can not faux to be blind to the injury which poor political management has prompted in our polity.

“Whether or not on the stage of events or within the space of governance, their efficiency has been under common,” he stated.

In keeping with the senior cleric, the dearth of self-discipline and lack of transparency which Nigerians are seeing from political leaders have largely eroded public belief and confidence in politics.

“This can be a harmful state of affairs,” he warned.

Highlighting a few of the present conditions political leaders ought to prioritise within the new yr, Bishop Badejo expressed issues over what he described as “the chaos of occasion defections and courtroom circumstances.”

“Within the New Yr, our leaders should have a change of coronary heart and embrace transparency, honesty and respect Nigerians extra. Accountability continues to be one other Achilles heel of Nigerian political management that must be repristinated,” he suggested.

He additional demanded for a greater method to the combat in opposition to terrorism and banditry throughout the nation.

“Propaganda and media hype should have limits in good governance. Authorities should tackle extra folks oriented wants and up its act in tackling insecurity at each stage,” he acknowledged.

The bishop warned, “I believe that the erosion of public belief in governance can develop into self inflicted coup if political leaders don’t discover a means of constructing themselves increasingly reliable within the eyes of the folks they govern… It provokes blanket cynicism about each step leaders take and it’s harmful…. It must be addressed.”

In keeping with him, Nigeria belongs to all and all have a stake in it, calling on the nationwide orientation and mobilisation businesses to do extra to tell and educate the general public about their rights and duties and about authorities insurance policies and motion.

“An uninformed, ignorant populace will all the time be extraordinarily troublesome to serve or lead,” he famous.

“Lastly, Nigerians as a non secular folks should themselves be trustworthy and observe the tenets of their faith by the follow of solidarity, righteousness, honesty, hardwork and Godliness. Thus we could all channel our frequent vitality in direction of constructing a greater Nigeria and the New Yr convey us pleasure and good occasions anew,” he informed THE POINT.

An Islamic chief and scholar, Imam Sa’advert Umar, admonished President Bola Tinubu, state governors and members of the Nationwide Meeting to shun corruption within the new yr.

Umar, a lawyer and Head of the Authorized crew of the Educational & Da’wah Islamic Propagation Centre Worldwide (ACADIP), was of the view that political leaders would discharge their constitutional duties very nicely if they’re incorruptible.

“We have now problems with insecurity. We have now problems with financial system and corruption. Concedingly, our leaders can not clear up these issues in a day however there should be indicators of seriousness this yr on their half to get these items executed. Our leaders appear to be docile and nonchalant about combating insecurity.

“I’ve been calling for a severe combat in opposition to Boko Haram since 2014. I’ve challenged the Boko Haram that if you’re saying e-book is Haram, then allow us to have a dialog whether or not e-book is Haram or not. So, I’ve been asking them to allow us to have a roundtable dialogue and I stated, for those who say e-book is Haram, ought to the penalty be killing?

“These Boko Haram persons are not representing the Muslims. Since they aren’t prepared to vary, authorities ought to sort out them head-on and guarantee they’re worn out on this 2026. We’re nonetheless battling the tough results of gas subsidy elimination, authorities ought to make sure that mechanisms are put in place to scale back the hardship Nigerians face,” the Deputy Chief Imam of Kwara State Polytechnic stated.

One other cleric, Rev Fr Ambrose Olasinde, urged authorities functionaries to be extra patriotic within the new yr.

“My cost to political leaders is for them to like Nigeria. And what does it imply to like Nigeria? Love is an lively phrase that does one thing for the opposite. What I believe our political leaders ought to do on this new yr is to begin doing issues that can make Nigeria nice, ranging from those that voted them in.

“Nigeria is weeping, groaning, and these political leaders could make issues higher. As a substitute of combating for their very own pockets alone, allow them to do issues that can make life simpler and Nigeria will likely be higher for it.

“Let political leaders love the nation and in the event that they love Nigeria, it is going to make their work simpler. From the President to Governors and all the way down to those that make our legal guidelines, allow them to make insurance policies and programmes that work for the folks, not those that put the folks in bondage.

“Let the residents not lose hope and they need to additionally love Nigeria. Leaders aren’t good as a result of followers aren’t good. So, let all of us love Nigeria,” he famous.

Making his expectations for the yr recognized in an interview with THE POINT, the Performing Nuncio of World Bishops Council in Africa, Seun Adeoye, charged political leaders to manage with worry of God.

“Leaders in positions of authority ought to do not forget that they have been as soon as followers. As leaders, they need to attempt as a lot as attainable to steer with the worry of God in them.

“They need to additionally not neglect that persons are struggling now and no matter it’s they need to do, they need to make sure that they offer to the poor and so they additionally assist them. The rationale why they’re leaders is as a result of God has affirmed that they are going to convey succour to the folks and if they aren’t doing it, they’re actually offending God.

“Males of God also needs to be cautious to not covert issues to themselves. They need to have a change of coronary heart to do nicely and they need to plan and begin nicely in no matter capability they discover themselves,” Bishop Adeoye stated.

A civil rights activist, Dr Shiny Oniovokukor, urged political leaders to make 2026 a yr of aid for Nigerians.

“For leaders who’re truly delicate, the outgone yr confirmed them that Nigerians have handed by way of lots and so they yearn for aid. Our political leaders ought to guarantee they work on points that have an effect on the folks. For instance, the difficulty of insecurity, it was someway shameful the way in which Nigerians reacted when Trump talked about that they are going to perform navy motion if the genocide ought to proceed.

“And naturally, some days in the past, Nigeria witnessed airstrikes. Despite the fact that some individuals died in that strike, Nigerians didn’t truly see it as if it was Nigerians that have been killed, they have been very completely happy. So, it tells you the leaders aren’t doing nicely and it’s dangerous that Nigerians are actually having extra confidence in exterior forces to rescue them, it’s a very huge problem.

“So, they need to truly look inward and see how they’ll tackle the difficulty of insecurity squarely.

“The financial system is dangerous. Inasmuch as it isn’t hitting everyone the identical means, there’s a signal that majority are feeling it. The leaders ought to see how they will cushion the consequences of {economic} hardship, whether or not by way of short-term or long-term measures however a very powerful factor is that folks ought to begin seeing outcomes of succour with out additional delay.

“Our leaders ought to present enabling setting for companies to thrive in 2026,” Oniovokukor acknowledged.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had final Thursday stated 2026 would mark the start of a extra sturdy section of {economic} progress for Nigeria, citing moderating inflation, improved overseas reserves, rising funding inflows and sustained GDP enlargement as proof that latest reforms are starting to yield outcomes.

In his New Yr tackle to the nation, the President stated the administration’s fiscal, financial and structural reforms applied in 2025 had stabilised key {economic} indicators regardless of world headwinds, whereas pledging to deepen tax reforms, broaden infrastructure funding, strengthen safety operations and speed up inclusive progress initiatives aimed toward bettering residing requirements throughout the nation.