BY OLAYINKA LATONA

The president of Eket Local Government Association, ELGA, Lagos, Dr. Patrick Essien, has advised the Federal Government to step up efforts in addressing the lingering security challenges facing the country.

He gave the advice in Lagos as part of activities to flag off his association’s forthcoming conference and inauguration ceremony billed for tomorrow, in Surulere, Lagos.

He said security was paramount to the social, economic and political development of the nation, hence the need for the government to give it serious attention.

Essien who is also the Director of Industrial Relations of Steel and Engineering Workers’ Union of Nigeria, observed that Boko Haram was not the only major security challenge facing the nation, adding that other areas of serious concern were unemployment and violent crimes that could cause a breach of the peace.

“We advice that the government should look beyond the threat posed by the Boko Haram sect and pay more attention on education, empowerment of the youths, women and other vital sectors of the economy,” he said.