A divided Nigeria, a bruised economy and insecurity: the biggest challenges ahead of Bola Tinub

A few days ago, Vice President Kassim Shettima warned expecting Nigerians that the beginning of a new government may not be “rosy”. Shetima’s remarks suggested he was aware of the challenges ahead and the wounds in Nigeria’s economy that may take time to heal.

“The starting point may not be rosy, to be honest,” he said. “Oil subsidies have become an albatross around our necks. Multiple exchange rate regimes waste the national economy and create a dual economic system.”

In a short video that went viral recently, President Bola Tinub acknowledged high expectations from Nigerians. He replied to former Governor Borno: Sheriff Alimoduasked him to showcase the “magic of Lagos” on a national level.

Tinub has prayed to God to help carry the burden of Nigeria’s leader. Here are some of the biggest challenges facing his administration.

divided nation

How can people who are divided on ethnic and religious grounds during elections and campaigns coexist without chaos? The presidential election has divided the Nigerian people more than ever. Many friends became enemies because of the selection of candidates during the election campaign.

Election observers and pundits blamed the split on the three leading presidential candidates. Tinub is believed to have sent the wrong signal when he chose the same Muslim as his vice-presidential candidate. His rivals have taken cues from him when crafting divisive campaign strategies. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar campaigned to appeal to relatives in the north, while Labor Party leader Peter Obi targeted Christians and Igbo.

Months after the election, former Nigerian central bank governor Muhammadu Sanusi said Nigerians had never been more divided since the civil war ended in 1970. He said the election had “dangerously” divided voters “along ethnic and religious lines”. ”.

“I don’t think Nigeria has ever been in such a difficult situation since the civil war,” Sanusi said. “We have the task of building a nation.”

But Mr Tinub said he would prioritize a government with “national capabilities” over “national unity”. As a former governor of Lagos, he was known for appointing people from diverse backgrounds to government.

“As president-elect, I will take on the task at hand,” he said. “There is talk of a national unity government. My goal is higher than that. I want a government with national capabilities.

“When choosing a government, I am not bothered by considerations unrelated to competence and performance. The days of political bargaining are long gone.”

Nigerians will look to him to deliver on that promise and lead the nation to healing.

hurt economy

Nigerians are counting on significant improvements in the economy and living standards from a man who has repeatedly boasted of boosting Lagos’ economy amid federal financial repression. In many of his campaign stops, Mr. Tinub boasted of his ability to turn the economy around and build wealth for the country and its people.

A recent analysis by The Premium Times found that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed economically. Since Buhari took power in 2015, inflation has continued to climb, making life even more difficult for the population. Rising prices and declining purchasing power pushed inflation to its highest level in 16 years, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics.

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But Mr. Tinub raised hopes for Nigerians on economic issues. In a few interviews he gave, he talked about how he revitalized Lagos’ economy and built a nation that could stand on its own.

“I have led a very cautious government, with domestic revenues going from Naira 600 million to Naira 5 billion a month,” he told a BBC reporter in an interview. “This is a record that no one can boast about.

Security and stability

When Mr. Tinub suggested at a public forum that Nigeria should recruit “50 million young people into the army,” he realized that insecurity was perhaps one of the biggest challenges holding the country back. I guess I was. The figure was falsely exaggerated, but he indicated a commitment to recruiting more security personnel to combat domestic terrorism and other forms of insecurity.

Under Buhari, security has improved significantly, especially in the northern regions. The splintered Boko Haram terrorist group advanced into the north-west and north-central regions of the country, where it joined existing armed groups. While armed robberies operate in the northern region, other violent groups, including the ethnic self-determination group Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), wreak havoc in the southeastern and southeastern regions, resulting in kidnappings, ritual killings and other crimes. exposed. Southwest.

But former Borno governor Vice President Shettima said he would use his experience in fighting threats in his state to address security instability in Nigeria.

“I have been on the scene of the conflict for 18 years and intend to lead the army. My principal is an economic wizard who turned Lagos into Africa’s third largest economy,” he said.

“He will focus on the economy. By the grace of God, I will not only be in charge of public security, but I will also lead armies and fight across this country.”

Education sector and all that matters

One of the major failures of Mr. Buhari’s government has been its failure to stop an industrial strike by Nigerian university teachers, despite promises made in 2015 and 2019 when it tried to take power. The previous education minister, Adam Adam, was once a vocal critic of the government over issues affecting Nigeria’s education sector. But at the ministry, Adam failed badly, especially when it came to curbing constant strikes at higher institutions.

At a valedictorian meeting with ministry officials and heads of sub-state agencies, Mr Adam confessed that he had no experience in managing education for eight years before being appointed Minister of Education. “When he was appointed minister, he knew nothing but superficial things about the education sector,” he said, with days to go until the end of his term. “But when Mr Buhari decided to make me minister of education, I called several people to help me write a policy document on education because I was a novice in the field.”

While campaigning for Mr. Buhari in 2015 and 2019, Mr. Tinub pledged stability in the education sector to Nigerian students on numerous occasions and assured them not to strike. That promise was not fulfilled by Mr Buhari’s administration. Tinub, as the APC’s presidential candidate, reiterated this promise, saying “a four-year course will be his four years.”

If it could be argued that he was not president during repeated strikes at Nigeria’s higher education institutions over the past eight years, there would be no room for such excuses now that he is.

Nigeria’s health crisis

Buhari appears to have spent more time abroad taking medication than any other Nigerian president. Nigerians hope the incoming president will improve the country’s hospitals to avoid a recurrence of Mr. Buhari’s medical tourism. Unfortunately, Mr. Tinub is also notorious for flying abroad for treatment.

So where is the hope of rebuilding Nigeria’s health sector?

But Mr. Tinub showed off his achievements in the medical field in Lagos during his campaign. He promised to put a fully functioning health system in the country.

“We are going to see a lot of innovation, including the National Health Insurance Act that the current government signed into law,” he said at a meeting at City Hall in January. “This isn’t just reversing medical tourism, it’s not rocket science. It’s just a function to

‘Have no mercy on me’ – Tinub talks about future challenges

At an event held on the eve of his inauguration, Tinub made it clear to Nigerians that he was ready for the challenges ahead. He vowed never to make excuses.

“This is a country that has stumbled many times but never flinched. said.

“We have to fight corruption, poverty, policy disagreements and many other problems that face us. But do not pity me. I have no excuses and I will abide by the proposed bill.” I promise you. “