Pan Yoruba socio-political group in the United Kingdom and Europe, Afenifere, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first year in office has been a time of mixed results, with both notable achievements and significant shortcomings.
The UK Afenifere in a statement by its Secretary, Engr. Anthony Ajayi on Monday May 27, 2024 hinted that Nigerians reflection on President Tinubu’s one year tenure is characterised with divided opinions, adding that the Nigeria’s political landscape remains vibrant with debate.
The group said that on May 29, 2024, President Tinubu will be one year in office, stressing that they have taken a serious and critical insight at his administration, stating that a lots still needed to be done when compared with his eight years experience as the Governor of Lagos State, the largest subnational economy in Africa, during which he mastered the art of implementing enduring institutional and process reforms.
According to the group, Nigerians are dissatisfied with the current situation, particularly with the policies enacted by this government, which have no meaningful impact on the masses’ standard of living right from the removal of fuel subsidy to the rising inflation rate at 33% in April 2024.
The group said, “President Tinubu released an 80-page policy document that highlights an eight-point agenda. It was reported that his priorities of action plans were national security, economy, agriculture, power, oil and gas, transportation and education. In the manifesto Tinubu said his objective is to foster a new society based on shared prosperity, tolerance, compassion, and the unwavering commitment to treating each citizen with equal respect and due regard. But there comes the biggest question, was he able to achieve all that?
“Assessing President Tinubu’s performance based on his manifestos and the current state of affairs in Nigeria, we can say that in terms of national security, there have been some improvements in combating terrorism and banditry even though the country still faces significant security challenges, including rising cases of kidnapping and communal violence. The issue of state police remain sacrosanct towards addressing the security challenges across the country.
“In economic growth, Nigeria’s GDP rate has slightly improved, but the economy still struggles with high inflation, currency fluctuations, and unemployment. While in education, some progress has been made in increasing access to education, but the quality of education remains a concern, and the 25% budget allocation target has not been met. Active delay in the appointment of governing councils for tertiary institutions is also a factor.
“There have been some improvements in healthcare infrastructure and access, but the healthcare system still faces significant challenges, including brain drain and inadequate funding. In power generation, there have been some increases in generation capacity. The country still experiences frequent power outages and shortages, and the 15,000 megawatts target is still far from being achieved. In 2024, the national grid has fallen for more than 3 times. A lots of Nigerians still depend on generator and solar energy.
“The deregulation of the oil market and removal of subsidies have led to some economic benefits, but the National Strategic Reserve for petroleum products has not been fully established. According to the NNPC in May 2024, the country is near 1.7m barrels of crude oil per day of the OPEC quota, which is significant improvement from the previous administration who were struggling to reach 1m bpd.
“In agriculture, there have been some initiatives to support farmers and improve productivity, but the sector still faces challenges, including inadequate funding and infrastructure. While some job opportunities have been created, the unemployment rate remains high, and the manufacturing and industrialization sectors have not seen the expected growth. The unemployment rate increased from 4.2% under the previous administration to 5% under President Tinubu government.
“Some progress has been made in infrastructural development, but the pace of progress is slow, and many projects are still ongoing or have been delayed. The Nigeria’s green industrial zone, with the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) as the Lead Arranger and Developer. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road is a strategic road project that will enhance connectivity, facilitate transport efficiency, and stimulate economic growth across regions. While Sokoto-Badagry Road; Lagos-Kano and Eastern Rail lines are projects that will ensure modernization of transportation networks, fostering interconnectivity between key urban centres, and facilitating movement of goods and people with greater speed and reliability.
“President Tinubu’s decision to close the gap between the parallel market and the central bank’s official forex rate is a positive step towards reducing criminal activity and sabotage in the financial system.”
According to the group, despite President Tinubu’s efforts, there are still deep-seated issues, stressing that the economic reforms, although necessary, have brought hardships to many citizens, particularly those in the informal sector. “Increased taxation and the removal of fuel subsidies have raised the cost of living, adding to the daily struggles of the masses.
“As we hope for a better Nigeria, we call for a more inclusive and effective approach to governance as Nigerians need a breath of fresh air. Significant work remains to be done to fulfill his campaign promises and improve the lives of all Nigerians. The next steps President Tinubu’s administration will take should be crucial in shaping Nigeria’s future”, the group said.
Moreso, the group question how the South-Western states Governors spent the huge federal allocation being disbursed to them every month, while saying the Governors constitute the major part of underdevelopment in Nigeria.
“We call on all the South-West Governors including Kwara state Governor to give account of what they have been doing with the federal allocation. For instance, Lagos State receives over N23.6billion as federal allocation every month, while Oyo State gets over N10.5billion. Others are Ogun State over N7.1billion, Osun State over N7.8billion, Ondo State over N10.2billion, Ekiti State over N6.9billion and Kwara State over N6.9billion. They should tell us what they do with these monies amidst the suffering of the people in the region.
“The IGR of the aforementioned states have all increased and when you add up the federal allocation and compare the money to reality of development and standards of living of the people, nothing to be proud about. Our people are still suffering amidst these huge revenues. We want to return home to see better environment and happy people and be proud of our leaders. Enough of the underdevelopment we see year in year out. We implore our Governors to change the narratives for better. We have the resources, manpower and capacity to develop the region”, the group stated.
