By Gloria Adokwu

JOS—Alumni Association of the National Institute policies and Strategic Studies, AANI, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to ignore the pressure to devalue the Naira, saying “It is time Nigeria diversified the economy to value adding activities in manufacturing in the real sector of the economy.”

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the opening of a 2-day National Economic Council Retreat at the Statehouse Conference Centre on 21st March 2016.

AANI in a statement by its president and Secretary General Major-General (retd) Lawrence Onoja and Issa Aremu, respectively at the end of its 36th Annual General Meeting, AGM, in Jos, Plateau State, said “Nigerians should stop exportation of raw materials and natural resources and on the contrary through industrialization, produce most if not all the goods it consumes. This is the only way to create sustainable jobs for the youths.”

The statement said AANI appreciated the ongoing effort to block the leakages in public financing, noting that “With the introduction of Treasury Single Account, TSA, there is now transparency in public accounting and billions of Naira is being saved through elimination of ghost workers.”

On the anti-corruption, AANI said the t fully backed “the government’s war against corruption. “We support the submission of President Muhammadu Buhari, that if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. AANI also shares same view with Alhaji Mohammed sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman AAAI Heritage Council that “all those found guilty should not only have their entire assets seized and fortified to government but also face jail sentences.”

The statement added that AANI appreciated the effort of Nigerian Military on security issues and commended the “great sacrifices of our soldiers in this patriotic endeavour. We call on Nigerians to compliment the efforts of the military by ensuring the ownership of the war through vigilance to apprehend some renegade suicide bombers on the look.”