NIPR Unveils Citizens Summit Report, Advocates United Nigeria
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, on Tuesday, presented to the general public the report of its maiden ‘Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security,’ held last year.
Titled, “Rebooting Nigeria: Reopen Conversation, Rebuild Trust,” was presented by Prof. Emmanuel Samu Dandaura.
In the opening remarks, the Chairman of the NIPR National Summit Planning Committee, Dr Ike Neliaku said that the process leading to the successful conduct and conclusion of the Citizens Summit started with the realization by the Council that the support, goodwill, and solidarity of persons will be critical in facilitating the summit.
Neliaku who is also a Fellow of NIPR noted that the effort 93 organisatiions partnered with the NIPR in organising the summit at Zonal and national levels.
During the presentation, Mal. Mukhtar Sirajo, National President of NIPR, also tasked citizens to join forces with governments to build a strong, united and prosperous Nigeria.
PRNigeria reports that the Citizens Summit, was borne out of an objective assessment of the state of the nation, analysis of findings from credible sources on certain challenges confronting Nigeria, and a clear conviction that citizens, at home and abroad were yearning for a platform that would offer them the opportunity to not only peacefully ventilate their concerns, but also contribute to the dialogue on nation building and proffer realistic solutions.
According to Sirajo, the journey of the summit started in 2021 with Zonal Dialogue Series held across the six (6) geo-political zones of the country to offer an opportunity for expanded participation by Nigerians in the different parts of the country.
He said: “The process culminated in a grand finale that took place between 23rd – 25th August, 2022 at the International Conference Centre, here in Abuja. It is our hope that all concerned will muster the needed courage, will and resources to ensure that the recommendations of this report are translated into concrete actions.
“It is also our hope that as the new administration in the country settles down with the business of governance, it will find this report useful, especially in policy formulation in the areas that the summit deliberated upon and made recommendations accordingly.
“There is no doubt that our nation is currently being confronted with some serious challenges at various levels and dimensions which the new administrations at both states and federal levels have inherited.
“We are particularly happy to note that some of the issues raised at the Summit and contained in this report are already being addressed – such as the protracted fuel subsidy debacle and unification of foreign exchange rate windows.
“However, we hope that the Government will quicken the process of putting in place the needed measures, to cushion the impact of the new petroleum products policy, especially in the area of public transportation for the citizens”.
Though the issue of insecurity remains critical to the growth, development and survival of the country, the NIPR President, expressed confidence that the new service chiefs will surpass expectations and help address lingering insecurity.
He said: “We commend the Federal Government in the relatively equitable appointment of Service Chiefs and encourage the Administration to do more. This is one sure way to not only restore a sense of belonging to all citizens, but to equally foster national integration.
“We will like to encourage Governments at the state levels to equally key into this process of inclusion as a sustainable way of building unity and cohesion at state and community levels”.
Prof. Samu Dandaura, while highlighting the Citizens Report, said Rebooting Nigeria derives from the understanding that governance is a system, which is driven by a carefully designed program akin to the computer system driven by an operating system”.
