By Robert Egbe

The Coalition for A better Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to step up intervention in the plight of 160 Nigerian traders whose shops are still locked up in Ghana.

It said $1 million demanded by the Ghanaian Ministry of Trade from each shop owner before being allowed to operate, was arbitrary and tantamount to a quit notice.

In a statement, the group said: “It is high time President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, considered the plight of about 160 Nigerian Traders whose shops are still locked up in Ghana, for failure to do the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) registration of $1million or in equity and they were given 14-day ultimatum to regularise the demands by their host country.

“We see this arbitrary charge of $1million as a quit notice given to Nigerian Traders in Ghana.”

The group condemned the coup in Mali and advised the Federal Government to resume negotiations with the military in the interest of peace.

It said: “Nigeria as a prominent member of the ECOWAS must try as much as possible to resume the negotiation with Col. Assimi Goita, the Leader of the Junta alongside other member States to find a common ground without resorting to war.

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“The true representatives of people of Mali, who protested over insecurity and economic hardship on the streets for weeks before the military took over must be properly carried along in the next phase of negotiation because the Junta saw the protest as public approval of their action…War could be the last resort if all entreaties failed.”

It praised the “collective performance of the Federal Executive Council, a year after being constituted,” stating that within a year, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) “generated $4.60billion from crude – oil, gas export, while the Prof Ishaq Oluyide led JAMB is also generating billions of naira unlike before he came on board, to mention a few.”

It further praised the government for steps towards community policing and advised that funds for this as well as for textile industry revival should be properly utilised.

It said: “Talking about security, we commend the Federal Government approval of N13.5 billion for the take-off of Community Policing across the nation and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approval of N50 billion revival fund for Textile Industry.

“We also call the attention of the President Buhari led Government to the need to double its efforts in ensuring greater impacts of its policies and programmes on Security, Corruption and Economy on the average Citizens of this Country.

“The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari and Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu must ensure judicious use of the money.”