The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in his bestseller, The Folks’s Republic, mentioned that “The first duty of management is catering for and selling its individuals to the top in order that they could dwell a full and completely happy life.” This implies a authorities ought to recognise the dignity of its residents and work tirelessly to enhance their lives.
At the moment, it appears Nigerians are removed from dwelling a full and completely happy life, given the hyperinflation, rising price of dwelling, and the embarrassing chaos within the oil and gasoline business.
President Bola Tinubu assumed workplace with a promise of renewed hope. Nigerians supported him, even after the unceremonious declaration at Eagles Sq. on Might 29, 2023, and the following name for persistence. Many questioned the rationale behind this name when the federal government confirmed no intent to scale back the price of governance or cease the misuse of public funds on pointless actions.
Nigerians’ persistence wore skinny by August 1, 2024, resulting in nationwide protests. However that was just the start. The state of affairs may worsen if the federal government doesn’t deal with the confusion within the petroleum business. How can Nigerians pay over 1,000 naira for gas and nonetheless wrestle to acquire it? In Tinubu’s Nigeria, individuals spend hours queuing at filling stations and as much as N50,000 for gas, solely to seek out themselves again on the queue after two days. That is unsustainable and unacceptable.
Nigerians are deeply pissed off. They really feel that nothing is working and don’t consider the issue rests solely with the president. Many consider that many of the president’s aides are both unfit for his or her roles or unwilling to carry out them successfully.
Tinubu began by creating and renaming ministries, together with appointing himself as minister of petroleum-the largest cupboard within the nation’s historical past,. That is the place the housecleaning ought to start. The president wants to alleviate himself of the function of minister of petroleum and appoint a reliable particular person to handle that function.
“I thank the cupboard members for his or her efforts, however I’ll relieve any of them of their duties anytime I really feel that they’re failing Nigerians,” the President had mentioned in Might.
It appears the Tinubu cupboard is in a race to failure. The nationwide grid has collapsed a report 5 occasions this 12 months alone, provide stays erratic, tasks from earlier administrations are deserted, extra contracts are awarded, meals insecurity and malnutrition persist regardless of agricultural initiatives, and safety is sort of non-existent. The record of wanted enhancements is in depth.
Reshuffling the cupboard is critical, and the President might have to begin with himself as minister of petroleum. Presidents ought to concentrate on their strategic administrative roles and keep away from holding ministerial positions. The awkward norm started with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and continued with former President Muhammadu Buhari, and now, the present President, all because of the ‘sensitivity’ of the sectors.
Our petroleum business is in disarray. The upstream sector, together with exploration and manufacturing, is affected by oil theft, undermining our OPEC quota and attacking our income base. The midstream sector, accountable for transportation and processing, is combating outdated services. The shocks within the downstream sector are evident within the present gas disaster throughout the nation. The Dangote Refinery, touted as a definitive answer to the nation’s power disaster, has been affected by countervailing forces.
Ending the subsidy regime had potential advantages, however the elevated federal allocation to states has left many extra confused. The dividends haven’t trickled right down to the widespread man.
The issue is immense and appears too nice for a President who additionally chairs the Financial Group of West African States. Mr President ought to exit from the function and appoint a superb technocrat to deal with the petroleum sector comprehensively.
Clearly, there’s a lot on the desk on the president. Nigeria’s financial system requires his full consideration. As commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria, he must be on the motive force’s seat to deal with the hydraheaded insecurity, banditry, terrorism and criminality within the nation. Terrorists and bandits have grown daring, attacking monarchs and publicising their acts on social media.
Nigeria’s infrastructure is essentially comatose. Starvation pervades the land, the Meals and Agricultural Group experiences that over 26.5 million individuals are experiencing acute starvation this 12 months, with predictions that between 82 million will face extreme meals insecurity by 2030.
The one method out of this stalemate is for the President to take decisive motion towards non-performing ministers, aides, and heads of companies, beginning with stepping down as minister of petroleum.
- Lawal Dahiru Mamman writes from Abuja
