The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to “demonstrable commitment to prioritize the security of the lives and properties of Nigerians.”
Maikyau in the letter observed that “It is no longer easily determinable, if not impossible, which square kilometre of the Nigerian territory is under the authority or control of the Federal Government of Nigeria” adding that it is a apathetic situation which has caused many Nigerians to lose “confidence in the ability of the Federal Government to deal with the security situation in Nigeria.”
He then called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “show demonstrable commitment to prioritize the security of the lives and properties of Nigerians as already committed by him.”
The Senior Advocate further stated thus: “Government, through our Armed Forces and other security agencies, must ensure that no square inch of the Nigerian territory is left ungoverned; no part of Nigeria should be left under the control of criminal elements by whatever name so called.”
Mr. Maikyau also recommended that the government must make deliberate efforts “to inform and engage Nigerians about what is being done (as security protocol may allow) to secure the nation.”
On the state of the economy, the NBA President in his letter stated that the “Nigerian Economy is dwindling; value of Naira has been bastardized, prices of foodstuff have skyrocketed, everything negative seems to be on the rise.”
Mr. Maikyau noted that “while this administration may argue that it is only 7 months into office and is not the cause of present-day experience, the fact remains that it is this government that has the responsibility of stemming the negative tide.”
Assessing government’s effort to improve the economy, the NBA President stated that “government posturing appears to be far from this expectation. When for instance, in the face of these challenges and daily experiences of Nigerians, the National Assembly embarks on projects for their personal welfare, involving humongous amounts of money and the requests are indulged by the Executive, that is not a posture that will give Nigerians any hope.”
Mr. Maikyau repeated the NBA’s call for the reform of the justice sector. According to him, “where the judiciary collapses, the nation will plunge into anarchy. The security and existence of any nation is intricately connected to the presence or absence of justice as may be dictated by the judiciary.”
He also acknowledged the commitment of President Tinubu’s administration to the welfare of judicial officers and the independence of the Judiciary, which is reflected in the provision of the sum of N341, 625, 739, 236.00 for the Judiciary in the 2024 Appropriation Act – the highest of its kind.
The NBA President commended the efforts of the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON, for their efforts in this regard.
Read and the download the full text of the letter here.
NBA-LETTER-TO-PRESIDENT-TINUBU