The Ijaw National Congress has advised President Bola Tinubu to lift ban on employment by Ministries, Department and Agencies and combat insecurity as part of the channels to fight hunger and poverty in the country.

The INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja urged Mr Tinubu to step up the fight against insecurity nationwide.

He said INC had keenly observed the rising cost of food items in the country and the efforts being made by the Federal Government to address it.

He stated, “It is the strong belief of the INC that lamenting food insecurity in isolation of the general insecurity in the nation amounts to dealing with the symptoms and leaving out the fundamental problem of general insecurity.

“That there is hunger and deepening economic hardship in Nigeria is an incontrovertible and socially menacing fact nationwide. It is curious that the shout of “ebi’npawa” (we are hungry) is louder and more strident in the Yoruba area of the South-West where President Bola Tinubu comes from.’’

He said it was unfortunate that food shortage which prompted the Federal Government to order governors to release grains from strategic reserves was affecting even the largest food producing parts of the country.

“Why would there not be hunger in the country, where subsistence farmers are maimed, killed daily and violently chased away from their farmlands for malicious and criminal reasons, ’’he said.

The INC president, therefore, called on the Federal Government to redouble its efforts in dealing with bandits and marauders ravaging, killing and maiming farmers nationwide.

He added, “The INC calls for the same military operations meted out to oil bunkerers and resource control agitators to also be visited on bandits and other criminals causing hunger across Nigeria.’’

He called for equity in the distribution of Federal Government appointments, adding that where there were perceived injustices, such should be remedied in line with the country’s constitution.

Mr Okaba stated, “We, therefore, demand immediate correction and equitable spread in appointments. We remain unequivocal in our unwavering advocacy for justice in our federation. A stitch in time saves nine.’’

(NAN)