By Jeremiah Urowayino

As Nigeria marks its 64th Independence Day, the National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, has urged the Federal Government to take immediate economic action to alleviate Nigerians’ suffering, particularly addressing rising hunger.

The group also emphasizes the need for President Bola Tinubu to tackle the pervasive issues of insecurity, poverty, bad roads, and out-of-school children.

In their Independence Day message, titled “Nigeria@64: Walking on Tightrope,” NAS, through its Capn, Dr Joseph Oteri, warned that the worsening economic conditions could trigger social unrest if left unaddressed.

He warned that arresting protesters and charging them with terrorism is not the solution to the problem.
The statement noted that celebrations have become more muted, with Nigerians growing indifferent to the festivities.

It added that as promises of progress remain unfulfilled, disillusionment has given way.
He said, “Poverty is at alarming levels, with 133 million Nigerians, over 60 per cent of the population, living in multidimensional poverty, lacking access to essential services like healthcare, education, and housing. This highlights the failure of economic policies to safeguard the most vulnerable.”

Oteri also criticised rising inflation, which hit a peak of 33.40 percent in July 2024 and only slightly eased to 32.15 percent in August.

“Food inflation surged to 40.9 per cent in June 2024, exacerbated by fuel subsidy removal, skyrocketing transportation costs, currency depreciation, and disruptions in food production due to insecurity and climate change,” he added.

He pointed out that healthcare is another urgent area for reform, saying Nigeria ranks poorly on global health indices, and the system’s quality fails to meet basic standards.

NAS calls for investment in healthcare infrastructure and professional training to ensure a healthy population, which is crucial for national development.

Similarly, Oteri said the issue of insecurity remains dire, with farmers abandoning their lands due to banditry, kidnapping, and herders attacks. This threatens food security and highlights the links between rising food prices and insecurity.

“In early 2024, over 2,000 people were killed, and many farmers were forced to leave their farms,” he said
He said fraud has continued to undermine Nigeria’s progress on the corruption issue, with the country ranking 145th on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

Oteri lamented that education in Nigeria is also in a catastrophic state, with UNICEF reporting that one in three children is out of school.

“The country’s education budget must be revised, falling far below the UNESCO recommendation. NAS calls for increased investment in education to combat the rising numbers of out-of-school children,” he advised.

The NAS Capn also advocated for better protection for farmers to increase food production and reduce reliance on imports.

Strengthening security agencies and ensuring accountability within the system is essential to restoring public trust and ensuring that the rich and the poor are held equally accountable for their actions.
The organisation also advocates for a decentralized governance to empower regions and promote true federalism.

The association believes this will help address Nigeria’s fragility and restore people’s trust in the government.

“The administration should lead by example by cutting unnecessary expenditures and investing in the people.

“The nation’s strength lies in its unity and collective efforts, and with a genuine commitment to the welfare of the people, Nigeria can build a prosperous, secure, and equitable future,” the statement concluded.