By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
Youth in Northern part of Nigeria on Monday, warned the federal government to reverse its decision of relocating institutions From Abuja to Lagos.
The group, under the auspices of Northern Youths Association, during a press briefing in Kaduna, said they will use every means to challenge the FG, saying “We will resist them through all available means, including legal, political and civil actions.”
Convener of the group, Murtala Abubakar, noted that, “the establishment of Abuja was a deliberate and visionary decision of this nation to foster a sense of belonging and equity among all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, or regional backgrounds. Abuja was meant to be a symbol of our collective identity and destiny as a nation.
“Any policy or action to relocate any federal institution or agency away from Abuja is unacceptable and tantamount to a betrayal of the spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We demand that the Federal Government affirms the fundamental principle of the establishment of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory in all its policies and programmes.
“We wish to warn the federal government that such actions will not go unchallenged. We will resist them through all available means, including legal, political and civil actions. We will not allow any attempt to undermine the status and integrity of Abuja as the federal capital and the seat of government.
“We demand that the Federal Government reaffirm its commitment to the development and sustenance of Abuja as the federal capital.
“We also request the federal government to ensure that all federal institutions and agencies are adequately funded and staffed in Abuja to enable them to perform their functions effectively and efficiently.”
They noted that the fact that the CBN did not consult with the stakeholders and the public, who owned the Bank, shows not only lack of transparency and accountability by its management but that the action itself lacks basic legitimacy and is therefore unacceptable.
The youths further stated that “contrary to the pedestrian arguments of the CBN, the relocation of these 5 key departments to Lagos will have serious consequences for the financial inclusion, stability and security of the country, it will create a gap between the CBN and the federal government, which is based in Abuja, and hamper the coordination and communication between them.
“It will also expose the CBN to undue influence and interference from the private sector and the state government in Lagos, which may compromise its independence and integrity.
“It will reduce the opportunities and benefits for the financial institutions and customers in other regions, especially the North, which already suffers from low financial access and inclusion.
“This will also have negative implications for the security, safety and efficiency of the airports in other parts of the country, especially the North, which are already facing challenges of underdevelopment, underfunding and underutilization.”
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