Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

National President, Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Practitioners Association (NASA), Mrs Folashade Okeshola, a professor, on Tuesday, identified increase in corruption and unhealthy struggle for power among the political elites as boosting illegal trade in firearms in Nigeria.

She also said the increase in corruption and indiscipline in high places has created deep frustration and a sense of hopelessness among the active population especially the youths.

She said this at the 22nd National Conference of the association held at University of Ibadan, with the theme, “Contours of Change, Modern Conflict and Mode of Production in Nigeria”.

According to her, small arms have continued to find their ways into the hands of unauthorised persons while many Nigerians who have lost confidence in the ability of the Nigerian police to protect them are also taking up arms.

While noting that Nigerians are deeply frustrated with heightened sense of hopelessness under the present change agenda especially the youths, Okeshola called for improved socio-economic welfare for Nigerians.

The NASA President who asked President Muhammadu Buhari to alter the present dimensions of conflicts in Nigeria, noted that conflict of different dimensions is affecting the mode of production of people with battered well-being of many families.

She said, “Small arms have continued to find their ways into the hands of unauthorized persons. This has resulted in the use of the weapons by criminals for various crimes. People have lost confidence in the ability of the police to protect them and have resorted to illegal possession of fire-arms for self protection. Increase in corruption and indiscipline over the years has created deep frustration and a sense of hopelessness among the active population especially the youths. All these, couples with religious intolerance, ethnicity and unhealthy struggle for power among the elites, have served as a boost for illegal trade in firearms”

Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Mr Idowu Olayinka, who declared the conference open, noted that the present change agenda under Buhari administration can realize its objectives only through a credible, well calibrated, transparent and bottom up change process woven around sustainable human development framework that guarantees the restoration of human dignity through the social contract.

While urging for caution, Olayinka who noted that there could be growth without development, urged  President Buhari to minimize conflicts and check deprivations being experienced by Nigerians in order to have a sane fellowship.

Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Mr Ayodele Jegede, advocated a change of attitude  that promotes development in all ramifications of total growth in order to have a Nigeria “of our dream which we wish to handover to our children”.