FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, underscores that the Federal Government is committed to bolstering the nation’s economy as part of its strategy to combat poverty, a fundamental contributor to insecurity.
Wike, addressing the media in Abuja on Monday, drew a parallel between poverty and the economy, pointing out the inherent connection between poverty and criminality.
‘If the economy is good, it means a lot of things will function well and that will be able to reduce poverty.’
‘When the economy is working well, there will be a lot of employment creation. When the economy is good, businesses will thrive, and this is what the current government is trying to do.’
Shedding light on the situation, he detailed that the Federal Government, by removing subsidies and implementing various economic strategies, was earnestly working to revitalize the country’s economy, which had endured a prolonged period of challenges.
He urged Nigerians to await the results, assuring that the implemented measures would eventually contribute to an improved economy, serving as a practical solution for poverty reduction.
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While acknowledging the contribution of poverty to the rising insecurity in FCT and the country, the minister stressed that poverty was not peculiar to FCT alone.
He added that FCTA would not be able to reduce poverty within the territory when it was tied to the national economy.
He highlighted that the FCT Administration’s decisions are crafted to have repercussions that go beyond the economic realm of the territory.
However, he acknowledged that the Administration’s investments in agricultural production, skill acquisition, and information and communication technology for job creation might not yield immediate results.
‘For me, the government is giving out palliatives to cushion the hardship being experienced due to fuel subsidy removal.’
‘We must understand where we are coming from because it is not going to be a miracle, but I want to assure you that the Federal Government is working hard to rebuild the economy,’ he said.
The minister, however, cautioned against using poverty as a justification for engaging in criminal activities.