PROPERTY ARTICLES

Lagos-based realtor and Fellow, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr. Sunbo Onitiri, is uncomfortable with the emerging global economic quagmire. He outlines in this piece a range of measures to ease the effects of the unbecoming situation

It is not enough to cut the public officers salaries government should show more physical discipline in handing the economic affairs of this country.

Government should also be more responsible and responsive to the people of this country. For example, government should be sincere involving the problems of the Niger Delta region instead of playing politics and lip service to it.

Government should intensity more effort fighting corruption in all tiers of government by blocking all revenue leakages like over invoicing, inflated contracts, corruption, and financial misappropriation. Hence, government should re-enforce and strengthen EFCC and ICPC.

Government should embark on immediate auditing of NNPC and Central Bank to ensure transparency and accountability.

Diversification of government resource to agriculture, service industry and solid mineral is essential. Development of key infrastructures like electricity, roads, ports and network are also vital to economic survival of our great country.

There should be proper and efficient boarder patrol to curb illegal arms importation and economic sabotage.

There should be educational reforms in all our tertiary institution. All our tertiary institutions should refocus and put emphasis on production of self-employed and resourceful graduate instead of job seekers.

Government should consider increasing the duration of tertiary education by one or two sessions with a view to enriching the curriculum with practical experience.

Proper auditing of all expenditure incurred by all tiers of government including local governments should be intensified.

Small-scale industries should be encouraged and giving soft loans operate. Banks should lower interest rates.

All religion leaders should pray against corrupt leadership and corruption in Nigeria. Religious leaders should be courageous to speak up against corruption just as Bishop Demond Titus stood up against apartheid in South Africa.

These are some of the major factors to be put in place for the economic survival of our great country Nigeria.