The plan by the federal government to move some key departments of CBN and FAAN headquarter to Lagos, citing space constraints and operations flexibility as the reasons has stirred controversy.
Ordinarily, in a saner society, such administrative minor changes should not have elicited mixed reactions let alone suspicious. But in Nigeria,there is huge trust gap between the major ethnic tribes, Hausa, Yorubas and igbos. Little wonder, whoever emerges as president of the diverse ethnic country is being closely monitored and his policies vetted.
Many good policies which are intended to provide solutions are being viewed with ethnic, religious or regional lenses. During the immediate past administration of president Muhammadu Buhari, efforts were made to nip into bud the decades old farmers/herders crises in the country. The government through the ministry of Agriculture,iniated”RUGA” policy. Under it, the troubled states would provide lands for the federal government to build ranches for the Fulani herders. The proposed ranches would confine fulani herders within specific areas and prevent them from open grazing that often result in bloody fight. However, the lofty policy was rejected by many states governors on the basis of ethnic and religious difference.
That is why,when the news of relocation of CBN departments and FAAN headquarters filtered the air, through a leaked memo, hues and cries immediately trail the move. If government hinges its relocation plans on offices constraint,why not build new ones? There is no gainsaying the facts, Abuja, the federal capital has vast land mass that can be used for building any structure. Former CBN governor,Sunusi Lamido Sunus,stated that those who are opposing the plan have their children working in the apex bank. He also advised the government to reconsider nursing women and those with health challenges. In as much as I agreed with his submission, I blame government for lack of stakeholders engagements or aggressive sensitization which fuels deeper suspicious not only in the north but also other parts of the country. The government’s decision comes at a wrong time when the country is under going healing process arising from last general election.
In 2023 general elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who governed Lagos State for eight years was roundly defeated by Peter Obi of labour party (LP). His lost in the poll regurgitated the debate on who own Lagos state,with Yorubas laying claim of ownership. If eventually those CBN departments and FAAN headquarter are successfully moved to Lagos, what will be the fate of others tribes working there? Already, government stated that, Lagos is an aviation hub and state which wared many commercial banks hence the need to move such offices.This is not far from the truth, but many states have CBN branches in their domain. In a digital age where information is passed and received with surpesonic speed, the issues of relocating these departments or any agency is less important.
Moving government offices from the seat of power will strip its befitting status as the federal capital.
While the government relocation plan which generated dust and hoopla is yet over,a contractor who is carrying Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport’s refurbished airport rescue and firefighting vehicles, write to federal government that such important project be moved to southern part of the country. If others actions are not termed as subterranean move, what about this one? Though, the government policies can not address the free fall of naira, inflation and high rate of unemployment bedevil the country,it will further polarise the country along ethnic, religious and regional fault lines. It is high time government have a rethink.
IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA PAMBEGUA, KADUNA STATE 08169056963.
Post Views: 331
