The United Nations Development Programme
says the delay in signing the 2016 budget coupled with the slump in the
price of crude oil will negatively impact economic growth and
development in Nigeria.
The Country Representative, Fatma
Samoura, spoke at the launch of the National Human Development Report
for Nigeria, 2016 on Friday in Abuja.
She said, “The launch of this report is
taking place at a time of great challenges in the country. We have just
witnessed an unprecedented delay although for very valid reason, in the
final decision of the budget and the signing of the 2016 Appropriation
Act. This juxtaposed with rapid decline in government revenues from oil
and gas will undoubtedly negatively impact economic growth and
development over the short run period.”
Speaking on the theme, “Human security
and human development,” Samoura said unchecked poverty, persistent
hunger, uncontrolled diseases, lack of access to basic services,
disregard for human rights, sub-optimal response to natural and man-made
disasters and unregulated natural resources exploitation, among others,
continue to pose serious threats to human development.
The new NHDR report named South-East as the most human security secure geopolitical zone in Nigeria.
The report added that Abuja, which is
the Federal Capital Territory, is the safest city to live in Nigeria as
it ranks low in the human security index
The UNDP defined human security as
safety from chronic threats such as hunger, disease and repression as
well as protection from sudden and harmful disruptions in patterns of
daily life whether in homes, jobs or communities.
The Economic Adviser, UNDP Nigeria, Mr.
Ojijo Odhiambo, said at the launch of the report that the North-East and
the North-West remained the most affected areas in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the launch, the
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, praised the
UNDP for the effort in putting together detailed findings of the human
development indices for Nigeria.
No comments:
Post a Comment