Kaigama warns against future consequences of crimes in Nigeria

By Femi Olaojo

Worried by the future of Nigerian youths, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace, Most Rev. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama warned against high rise of crime in the country.

The Archbishop sounded the warning at a media chart he organised for journalists in the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria, Garki, Area 3, Abuja yesterday.

He said: Familiar bad news about social maladies, such as embezzlement of public funds, kidnapping, banditry, militancy, unemployment, cybercrime, immorality, violence and killings are still with us. We must ask the question whether all these give our youths any decent future.”

Believing that something differently and positively can still be done for Nigeria and Nigerians, Kaigama says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, even as urged that little but significant step be taken to move forward.

On some indelible lesson for Nigeria and the world at large to learn from the Covid – 19 pandemic, Archbishop Kaigama said: “With the advent of the pandemic, it became obvious that our medical facilities are highly insufficient to cater for emergencies like this, as they are also below standard and need to be upgraded. ideally, well equipped and functional medical facilities should be available and accessible in all the 774 Local Government Areas of our nation. We must resolve, as a country, to make access the health care possible for all.

“In the same vein, the educational facilities in many of our public schools and institutions are not in line with global best practices. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools globally to switch to online learning. Nigeria must not be left behind. A targeted response is a matter of urgency. Education should be given a high priority by government, even though educating our students in the present circumstance will not be easy. It is good news that the government is allowing the exit classes to resume and sit for their exams.

“All precautionary measures against Covid-19 must however be put in place. I believe strongly that the needed funds could come from the generous donations received; part sacrifice of salaries and earnings; savings from the humongous cost of government; part of funds lavishly used by political parties before and during elections and; recovered looted funds, among others.

“These could be used to improve or create structures for our students in public, private and faith based schools so that their academic life is not truncated. We cannot afford the adverse consequences of leaving our students idle for such an undetermined period of time.

“Covid-19 pandemic has led us to the realization that we are not masters of our own fate. Ultimately, our lives are in God’s hands, which means far better hands than our own! In the midst of all the harshness the pandemic poses, perhaps we might feels gentle nudge that will help dispel the illusion that we are in control.

Informing that God wants Nigerians to draw good lesson out of the pandemic, the clergyman stayed theus: “Nigeria is blessed with enormous natural gas human resources and should be very ready at such critical times to provide and efficiently distribute palliatives to the poor and needy. Our politics must be further refined, to include high principles and value and must become an offer of self to serve the people.

“The social cancer of corruption must give way to Nigeria to speed up her journey to join the league of developed nation’s. Well intentioned anti-corruption agencies like the ICPC and EFCC do not appear to have performed optimally, with the allegations of high level of corruption in the news. The disease is an opportunity to repent of our sons. Our God is giving us a second chance to begin again. If we sincerely repent and turn to Him, just as He forgave the people of Nineveh,(of Jonah 4:11), He will forgive and heal us. We should not be blind to our personal sins and the sins of the world.”

He however called that the positive experiences gathered during the pandemic, like among othert, the sense of solidarity, selflessness, be used to be “our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.”