Security, Economy, Education: 30 first-time voters reveal what they want the next president to address first
On February 25 2023, Nigerians will go to the polls to elect a new president. Whoever wins will be burdened with many problems to fix and issues to address from Nigerians. From Insecurity to the economy to education, the next president has a lot to do for the next four years.
Of all these multitudes of issues to address and problems to solve, which is the most important? Gen Zs who will be voting for the first time speak on what they want whoever is elected president to address first
David Nguevese, 23, Student
Insecurity. Anybody that knows Benue state in the past will know that we are a peaceful safe state. If banditry is addressed, you will see how we will prosper
Solomon Tyoember, 21, Student
Food. I want the next president, as a matter of urgency, to improve our food security. It is getting worse every day
Andrew Nguuma, 25, Student
I want the next president to address insecurity. Without security, it will be difficult to achieve other things.
Doom Francis, 22, Student
Electricity. The reason many youths are doing menial jobs is that those who learnt one handwork or the other cannot do them because there is no electricity. My elder brother is an example. He is a welder but because there is no electricity, he is riding bike.
Rebecca Iyuah, 22, student
The next president must keep Nigerians safe. It is unbelievable that a state like Benue has IDP camps. Hardworking farmers have been reduced to waiting for food in IDP camps
John Iyuah, 20, Student
Our next president should build plenty inter-state roads, and rails and make them safe. The amount of food that gets wasted in Benue because of the delayed time in transporting them to other places is huge. If there are good safe network of roads, food will be cheap.
Janet Terungwa, 24, Student
Unity is my number one demand from whoever becomes president. We don’t trust ourselves again and it will be difficult to achieve anything when there is no unity.
Francis Nguevese, 20, Student
The first project I want the president to embark on is to create jobs. I don’t know how this will be done but it will be done. An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. If the youths are engaged, there will be peace.
James Ayo, 23, Student
Provide security. Everything else will fall into place
Solomon Aondo, 24, student
Use the idea of the other two major candidates as a guide. I think all three major candidates have good ideas. Whoever wins should borrow from their manifesto. That is the first step to creating a new Nigeria
Ahmed Halim, 25, Corps member
The president must first secure the country, especially the north. The reason food is expensive is because our farmers are not safe due to banditry. If the country is safe, everyone will enjoy it.
Kafayat Isa, 20, student
Security of lives and property.
Muslim Kabiru, 22, student
Build bridges. Whoever wins must build bridges because the election is polarising us across ethnic lines. Igbos are overwhelmingly supporting Obi, Yorubas are doing the same for Tinubu and Hausas are also supporting Atiku. Whoever wins bust unite us because we cannot continue like this
Hameed Murtala, 22, Student
The president should prioritise security. Even if that is the only thing the president will achieve, we will be fine with it. Other presidents can build upon that.
Aisha Yusuf, 21, Student
Jobs for young graduates. Thousands of people are graduating from higher institutions every year and there are no jobs. That is why we have bandits. Jobless youths will go into crime.
Medinat Abdul Malik, 19, Student
Anybody that becomes president today must first improve local vigilante to fight crime. Local vigilantes will create jobs and also make every part of the country safe
Sultan Yunus, 24, student
The president must push for constitutional review. I think the reason we have so many problems is because the 1999 constitution is faulty. The first road to change is to dismantle the foundation and that is the 1999 constitution.
Jemila Yusuf, 20, Student
Security and peace
Waliy Kabir, 22, student
The first thing we want from the president is to make agriculture attractive again for everyone. From farmers to distributors, we should be able to provide the needs of all Nigerians without importing anything related to food n and even start exporting.
Malik Usman, 25, Student
Our education system is a mess. I am a student and I am not sure I am learning the right thing. The sector needs to be overhauled. If we are able to improve education, then our human capital will improve overall.
Abosede Gabriel, 21, Student
I hope the president will first take care of security because it is getting more terrible
Momoh Basir, 20, student
Education is the most important thing we need right now to fix human capital. The constant ASUU strike is killing our education system. The president must sit with ASUU on the first day in office to solve their problem once and for all.
Ridwan Kabir, 26, student
The president must prioritise agriculture by making farming safe and profitable. All the vast lands we have can be put to good use.
Temitope Israel, 20, Student
The president should enact policies that will make the local government stronger. That way, more projects will get to the people
Fola Babatunde, 24, Student
Insecurity. I will even go as far as to say security is the only thing we need. We can solve other problems ourselves.
Kaothar Adetunji, 22, Student
The first thing the president should do is focus on projects that will benefit the youth. Every other thing can come after but the youths must be catered for first.
Odunayo Sunday, 20, student
The president should fix insecurity first by sacking all the service chiefs and putting competent people
Fola Misbau, 25, Student
Unity. We are too divided right now and we need unity to move forward. Maybe a sort of socio-cultural meeting can help.
Rachael Sunday, 21, student
The president should remove this double foreign exchange. Let us know how much the naira is really worth and not having two markets.
Jerry Adedotun, 25, Student
Remove fuel subsidy over five years. I think all the top presidential candidates have said they will remove fuel subsidy but it should not be done at once. A gradual removal is better so we can adjust slowly.
