Worried by the economic and social challenges facing Nigeria, a group of Christian leaders on Friday converged in Ikoyi to discuss the way forward.
The leaders, under the aegis of Coalition of Nigerian Apostolic Leaders (CNAL), met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and other well placed Nigerians.
The colloquium held at the Guiding Light Assembly, Ikoyi, Lagos.
CNAL is an affiliate and the Nigerian Arm of the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders.
Osinbajo said that Nigeria was going through the worst situation in its history, but gave an assurance of a bright future.
The vice president said that the rough times in Nigeria should not make Nigerians, particularly those that should solve the country’s problems, to lose vision.
According to him, those that must retain vision include political leaders, intellectuals, entrepreneurs and apostolic coalition.
“The solution lies with us,’’ Osinbajo said.
He blamed the country’s woes on corruption and fall in oil production due to vandalism and burning of oil pipelines.
“We must address corruption. If we are unable to stop corruption, it is one step forward and two steps backwards.’’
Osinbajo noted that vandalism and burning of oil pipelines made Nigeria to lose almost 100 million of its projected 220 million barrels of crude oil daily.
“It is a major shock in the economy. Crude oil accounted for 80 per cent of the country’s earning.
“Every part of our economy depends on foreign exchange, and 90 per cent of foreign exchange comes from oil.
“Oil contributes nine per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Oil still accounts for 52 per cent of the non-oil sector,’’ said the vice president.
He noted that the loss of N15 billion in Defence contract to looting also shook the economy.
“A lot of money disappeared in Nigeria’s economy. No economy has half of equivalent of its foreign reserve stolen. That is why the government does not have any savings,’’ Osinbajo said.
He said that the government had made efforts toward controlling fiscal expenditure.
“Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of Finance has saved a lot,’’ he said.
He added that the Single Treasury Account and the Integrated Payroll System had helped to reduce loss of revenue due to ghost workers and some other financial malpractice.
Ambode, represented by the state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, said the economic challenges were painful; but could provide an opportunity to re-strategize to build a sustainable economy.
According to Ambode, the recent declaration by the International Monetary Fund that Nigeria had regained its position as the biggest economy in Africa should be a harbinger of hope of a better Nigeria.
However, he called for consistency in policy that would make the best out of the economy.
On his part, Mohammed said that the Federal Government had made efforts to communicate effectively with the citizens to enable them to understand the causes of the economic recession and its efforts to tackle them.
“We have held town hall meetings. We have launched `Change Begins with me campaign’. It is about all of us. We must be the change we desire,’’ the minister said.
He said that a major challenge facing government was misleading information placed on social media by unpatriotic Nigerians to counter government information.
“They counter us, using social media. This is a challenge. They fill the atmosphere with their own version of information.’’
He urged organisation of events that would enable the government to have feedback from the citizens.
The Presiding Apostle, NCAL, Pastor Wale Adefasarin, said that economic crunch in Nigeria had made many citizens to ask: “Is this the change we voted for?’’
“Nigeria faces daunting challenges with attendant job losses, closure of industries, loss in Naira value, etc. Will Naira regain its value? How do our youths get jobs?’’
He said that coalition believed it had a role to play.
“We stand as partners in the Nigerian enterprise. The church can champion transformation. How can we support this transformation? We need to know,” he asked.
The representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Sola Ore, said that the church desired effective flow of information between it and government on activities of the latter, `so we can pray’.
“There is a place of divine direction from prophetic words,’’ Oke, the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, said.
In a prayer for the nation, Rev. Moses Iloh, the Presiding Steward of Soul Winning Ministries, prayed God to forgive the sins of the nation and strengthen its socio-economic life.
