Amb. (Dr.) Yemi Farounbi has urged the National Assembly to focus on creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities rather than imposing restrictions that could deprive Nigerians in the informal sector of their livelihoods.
Farounbi, a veteran journalist and diplomat, made the call while reacting to proposals to restrict preaching and selling in commercial vehicles during an interview with PrimeStar News Online.
He said many Nigerians who sell goods inside commercial vehicles depend on the activity as their primary source of income because they cannot afford conventional shops.
“People who sell in vehicles depend on that as their only market. It is a mobile market; they go from vehicle to vehicle,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s economy remains largely informal, meaning that many low-income Nigerians rely on flexible forms of trading to survive.
He therefore argued that eliminating such opportunities without providing alternatives could worsen the economic difficulties faced by ordinary citizens.
Farounbi also cautioned against dismissing practices that may appear unusual from the perspective of other societies, arguing that some activities are rooted in Nigerian culture and social conditions.
He cited the practice of spraying money at ceremonies as an example of a cultural practice that has existed in different forms over generations.
The veteran journalist argued that national policies should take account of the country’s social and economic realities rather than simply attempting to replicate practices elsewhere.
He extended the argument to religious activities, saying that preaching in commercial vehicles should also be considered within the Nigerian environment.
Farounbi said lawmakers should concentrate on measures capable of creating employment and improving the productive capacity of young Nigerians.
He cited the Philippines’ international call-centre industry as an example of how a country could use its educated, English-speaking population to generate employment and foreign exchange.
According to him, while in the Philippines he observed how international customer-service operations serving airlines, hotels, restaurants and other businesses were being handled from the country.
He said Nigeria possesses a large population of educated young people and questioned why similar opportunities could not be developed locally.
Farounbi recalled discussing the idea with Olusegun Aganga, who was then Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, after which, according to him, a team was sent to the Philippines to study the country’s model.
He said this was the kind of initiative he believed lawmakers should prioritise.
“Those are the kinds of things our National Assembly should be talking about: creating jobs, uplifting people, not disemploying people,” he said.
Farounbi’s argument is that restrictions on informal economic activities should be considered alongside the availability of alternative livelihoods.
He maintained that Nigeria’s young population represents an economic opportunity that can be converted into national development if policymakers create the right conditions for employment, enterprise and innovation.
