Nigerians Task Jonathan On Energy, Agriculture

Some Nigerians in Nsukka town have applauded President Goodluck Jonathan for giving attention to the energy and agriculture and energy sectors and urged him to do more.

The respondents who spoke with our correspondent in Nsukka, Enugu State, urged him to invest more in these sectors, to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

Mrs Cecilia Obiora, a secondary school teacher, said on Friday that, if the president invested more in these sectors, the country’s unemployment rate would reduce and food security would be achieved.

“Achieving steady power supply will create more jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates. Many graduates will set up private businesses and many industries would be established that will employ more youths.

“Some industries folded up due unreliable power supply that would power their industrial machines.

“I am impressed with the burning zeal in Mr President towards improving power supply in the country,” she said.

Mr Felix Onah, a farmer, urged the government to continue to invest in agriculture in order to achieve food security.

“No country can make landmark achievements in other sectors if it cannot feed its citizens.

“No matter where we work to earn our living, we must eat everyday to get the strength to do our work.

“Some young people get involved in criminal activities because they are hungry.

“The president’s Transformation Agenda on agriculture is a welcome development and should be supported by all and sundry.

He noted that providing farmers with fertilisers at subsidised rate and granting loans would help boost food production.

“Jonathan should sustain the present attention to agricultural sector in the remaining years of his administration.

“Farmers are happy now that only genuine farmers are given fertilisers and other incentives,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Desomnd Njoku, a civil servant, said that if past administrations had made similar sincere effort in the energy sector, the problem of unsteady power supply could have been a thing of the past.

“Mr President should not relent in his effort to achieve steady power supply. We should all support Jonathan in solving the power problem in the country which past leaders ignored.

“Nigerians should see the new electricity tariff as their own sacrifice and contribution toward solving the power sector problems.”