London — The Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK) has said that the pains and deprivations that Nigerians are currently being subjected to in the country are unacceptable.

CANUK Chairman, Mr Bimbo Folayan who stated this in an interview with the Daily Trust in London said Nigeria is suffering "systemic failures" while its people are suffering "debilitating poverty in the land of plenty."

"I was in Nigeria recently and the pains of the people (I saw) are simply unacceptable", he said, stressing that no amount of security measures could deter violence "where there is so much poverty and injustice".

CANUK accused the political class of "cornering everything" for themselves while the vast majority of the people wallow in depravity and penury. "We call on the president, state governors and other elected officials to get to work immediately" to ameliorate the gross sufferings of the people.

It warned that if urgent steps were not taken to put things right, the country could move towards a dangerous phase where frustration and sufferings could push people to kill themselves and others.

It said the government must provide people with the necessary infrastructure and facilities, generate employment and provide an enabling environment for "energetic and hardworking Nigerians" to thrive.

The association urged all Nigerians who have grievances to embrace peace and dialogue as a way to resolving such grievances, pointing out that resorting to killings and violence would only complicate things.