Permit us to start this article by first congratulating President Bola Tinubu on the occasion of his one year in office.
Indeed, it is not an easy task, we mean, being responsible for over 200 million people.
On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, President Tinubu completed exactly 365 days in office.
This past one year has dealt a big blow to Nigerians who are now suffering untold hardship.
The rising cost of living has left many Nigerians frustrated.
Now, as the president clocks one year in office, Nigerians cannot help but express their grievance.
Many have tagged the President Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) as the worst in Nigeria’s history.
Renewed Shege
The level of hardship faced by Nigerians was so much that Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ slogan was renamed ‘Renewed Shege’ by many.
As expected, the perception of people concerning the achievements or failure of the current APC-led administration varies.
For some, the one-year APC government under President Tinubu has been a cocktail of unfulfilled promises, monumental failure, worsening insecurity, a near comatose economy, policy somersault, and asphyxiation of citizens through unending taxes.
Yet for others, President Tinubu is the best thing to have happened to the country.
Tinubu With The Magic
They describe Tinubu as the man with the Midas touch and magic wand to turn around the declining fortune of the country caused by the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
Under his watch in the past one year, according to the Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed Idris Malagi, President Tinubu has laid a solid and enduring foundation to make life better for the people of Nigeria.
For him: “Landmark initiatives like the Consumer Credit Corporation, the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, and the ₦200 billion Presidential Grant and Loan Scheme, agriculture and food security efforts (including the launch of dry season farming, and massive fertilizer distribution) are by no means some of his modest achievements.
Also listed were other achievements by Mr President.
Cheap And Clean Gas
This includes the use of cheap and clean compressed natural gas (CNG).
The ruling party equally claimed that President Tinubu has done well in the area of infrastructure.
This is by approving the construction/completion and rehabilitation of several road projects across the country.
The roads include the Kano-Abuja, Kano-Eastern Bypass road project, the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal road, the 1000-kilometer Badagry-Sokoto road, and the 3500-unit Renewed Hope Housing Cities and Estates, which are currently built in 13 states of the country.
The Meeting
Malagi continued: “At a recent FAAC meeting, the total distributable revenue for April 2024 was ₦1.2 trillion, the highest ever disbursement in history.
₦655.8 billion was shared at this time last year during the subsidy era.
As a result, sub-national governments, in particular, are receiving double their previous allocations.
This results in more funds for critical infrastructure and the ability to do more to help people.”
“The reform-minded Tinubu administration also unified the exchange rates, which inevitably sent those benefiting from arbitrage out of business.
Of course, it did not take long for Nigeria to reap the benefits, as the economy grew by 3.46 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023.
That is compared to 2.54 per cent in the previous quarter.
Also, capital imports increased by 66 per cent in Q4 of 2023, compared to a 33 per cent decline in the previous quarter.”
Nigerians Are Suffering
“Let us not forget how oil production has grown steadily since the second quarter of 2023.
From 1.22 million barrels per day to 1.55 million barrels per day, implying additional resources even as non-oil revenue continues to rise as a result of the Tinubu administration’s finance,” the ruling party highlighted.
Indeed, the achievements which the government claims it has achieved are enormous.
However, what cannot be contradicted, according to political watchers, is that Nigerians are suffering.
They are dissatisfied with the current situation which has substantially reduced the people’s standard of living.
Some Nigerians will undoubtedly give the current administration credit for the prompt composition of the federal cabinet unlike his predecessor
However, many will argue that his renewed hope agenda has on the contrary, dashed the hopes of many Nigerians so far.
President Tinubu And Economic Policies
Many political watchers seem to be in sync in their assessment of President Tinubu’s economic policies.
They agree that it has inflicted more pain than hope on many Nigerians.
To them, its policy somersault, hopelessness, infrastructural deficit.
Also, acceptance of unpleasant policies from international agencies like the IMF have overshadowed whatever goodwill the APC-led government may have recorded.
Many have contended that his failure in thematic areas of subsidy removal, devaluation of the naira in the foreign exchange market, and the introduction of new taxes and increments in tariffs, like electricity, may have cast doubts on the sincerity of the present administration.
Economic Hardship
One year after, Fulani herders are still ravaging and ferocious in their attacks on farmers and villages
Economic hardship has persisted with many Nigerians finding it difficult to feed.
Meanwhile, Tinubu recently received a delegation of Yoruba leaders of thought at the State House in Abuja.
There, Tinubu re-emphasised the commitment of his administration to do all it takes for the average Nigerian to feel the impact of governance.
He stressed ironically that the country is no longer “bleeding”, but moving into prosperity.
The Bleeding Country
He said: “It has been challenging. It has been fulfilling as well. We took over, and we have stopped the bleeding.
I can say categorically now that Nigeria is no longer bleeding. And it will not bleed to death, but rather will now move to prosperity.
Also Read: #Tinubu’sOneYearAnniversery: See President Bola Tinubus’ Plans For You
“That is the promise that I made to you all, and it is also the charge that you gave to me.
We are managing to swim through the pond. The current is not a good one. We will turn the tide.
We are turning the bend. This I assure you. I am being very careful. The worst is over for Nigeria. We will prevail.
Impact Of Good Governance
“I think the team has been working really hard. All I can promise is that we will do whatever it takes.
We are determined, and we will work so that all Nigerians can feel the impact of good governance.
Healthcare upgrading is ongoing. Road rehabilitation and construction is ongoing. Education development is ongoing.”
