A Kogi State food scientist and baker, Aisha Muhammad, has expressed concern over the rising cost of living, unemployment and insecurity confronting Nigerians as the country marks its 66th Independence anniversary.
Speaking with Peoples Daily, Muhammad said many Nigerians were working hard but still struggling to afford food, fuel and other basic necessities.
She said, “My biggest concern is the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity, and the difficulty many Nigerians face in meeting their basic needs as Nigeria celebrates her 66th Independence.”
According to her, insecurity had worsened the economic difficulties confronting citizens, affecting farming, businesses, investment and food production.
“Many Nigerians are hardworking but still struggling to afford food, fuel and basic needs, while insecurity is affecting lives, farming and businesses,” she said.
Muhammad listed banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes and cybercrime among the security challenges affecting Nigerians.
“From banditry, kidnapping, to farmer-herder clashes and cybercrime, people no longer feel safe going to farm, travelling on the road, or even sleeping peacefully at night,” she stated.
She added that the situation had affected food production, investment and national unity.
Muhammad urged the government to urgently focus on improving the economy by creating jobs, reducing the cost of living and ensuring that public resources were used transparently for the benefit of citizens.
She also called for urgent action to address the country’s power challenges.
“If there is stable electricity and fuel and food prices come down, businesses will grow, jobs will come, and suffering will reduce,” she said.
On insecurity, the food scientist called for an overhaul of the country’s security architecture, including increased funding and modern equipment for security forces.
She also advocated better intelligence gathering, community policing and what she described as real justice.
“Government should overhaul the security architecture, more funding and modern equipment for our security forces, better intelligence gathering, community policing, and most importantly, bring real justice.
“No sacred cows. When criminals are punished swiftly, others will fear,” Muhammad said.
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