VIDEO: We Must Create Jobs — Donald Duke Links Insecurity to Economic Pressure
Former Cross River State Governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has said that Nigeria’s rising insecurity is closely tied to economic pressure and the failure to create sufficient jobs for its growing population.
Speaking during a televised interview, Duke argued that the country must reduce dependence on imports and prioritise local production, especially in essential sectors such as food.
“We must work towards that. Anything that is essential must be local. Food is essential. You can’t import food and survive,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria’s population growth has far outpaced its economic capacity, warning that the imbalance is contributing to social and security challenges.
“We’re not a small country. We’re 230 million people. We must find work for them,” he added.
Duke compared current economic realities with earlier decades, saying government revenue has remained relatively stagnant despite rapid population expansion.
“In 1980, the Nigerian budget was about $25 billion with 76 million people. Today we are 230 million people and the budget is still about the same,” he said.
According to him, widespread unemployment and economic hardship are key drivers of insecurity in the country.
“We must create jobs. Each and every one of us. For you to be dependent on another human being for your livelihood is a failure,” he stated.
He also emphasised the importance of education, describing it as a key tool for national development and productivity.
“When I talked about free education, each educated mind is an asset. We must give our people the tools to thrive,” he said.
Duke further warned that economic exclusion poses risks across all levels of society, including the elite, if left unaddressed.
“We the elites, particularly, are endangered species,” he added.
The interview has since generated public debate online, with commentators discussing his assertion that insecurity is largely rooted in economic pressure and joblessness.
