The last two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration have introduced more hunger to Nigerians this was the position of many Nigerians and they have concluded that they were better off than they were before President Tinubu assumed office on May 29 2023.
Many residents said under the Tinubu administration, the average person has experienced more poverty and insecurity than under any other government in the nation. Some, however, said the president has done his best and identified areas in which he needs to do more.
Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), stated that although Tinubu came to power with audacious pledges and reforms, particularly the elimination of fuel subsidies and attempts to standardize exchange rates, these have caused a great deal of hardship for a large number of Nigerians.
According to him, “The naira’s depreciation, spiraling inflation, and high energy and food costs have eroded the purchasing power of the average Nigerian citizen. While the government argues these are necessary sacrifices for long-term gain, for millions of Nigerians, daily survival has become increasingly difficult. While some progress has been reported in counterinsurgency efforts in the Northeast, a plethora of incidents of widespread banditry, kidnapping, community clashes, and tribal invasions accompanied by large-scale death tolls have ravaged the North-Central. The judicial and legislative reforms promised are still unfounded, and the impact of their activities on governance and the rule of law is abysmal”.
We pass through hell daily —Dr. Theophilus, IYC president
The president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr. Alaye Theophilus, described President Tinubu’s two years as very disappointing. He said, “all the policies of the Tinubu government are anti-people, and what we are exposed to daily is threat upon threat by a government that behaves like a military junta. The president should use the remaining two years in his first term to correct the wrongs of the past two years, particularly for the people of the Niger Delta, who voted for him massively in 2023.
We expected him, as a democrat, to be better than this. People are passing through hell daily, and this government keeps making promises without any idea of how to fulfill those promises”.
Everything gone from bad to worse —Adima, political activist
A political activist, Mr. Blessing Adima, said, “Everything has gone from bad to worse. As far as the APC government is concerned, they didn’t come to do anything; there is no area of the country that they have done well. Let us not be fooled by local government financial autonomy, the governors are still handling the funds of local governments and the local government’s financial autonomy has not bettered the lives of the people at the grassroots. They should reverse most of the decisions they have taken. They have borrowed more money than before despite the removal of the fuel subsidy. How come a government that paid subsidies didn’t borrow this much? Insecurity is worse, terrorists have taken over Benue, Plateau, and Taraba States. The president should employ the services of mercenaries who can dismantle those terrorists so that farmers can go back to their farms. He should reverse the draconian economic policies that are not working.”
Henry Otumara said, “Comparatively, former President Jonathan’s government is far better than his successor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, and the current President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu has failed Nigerians in the last two years. He should fix the power sector. The electricity bill has gone up, yet there is no light; we don’t see what we pay for. This government appears to be defrauding its citizens in a way. After all, power is a public service rendered by the government, so it should not be beyond the reach of many Nigerians.”
There is hunger in the land —Akpan
Pioneer president of Future Journalism and Media Studies, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Mark Akpan, stated, “I expect Tinubu’s government to improve the standard of living and focus on massive youth empowerment in the remaining two years. They should look critically into the agricultural sector because the major issue Nigerian citizens are facing today is hunger. Most families can’t afford two meals a day. Some even struggle to have one meal a day”.
Tough and deteriorating economic conditions — Omare, ex-IYC president
Eric Omare, former president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), said, “It is difficult to say whether Nigerians are better off in terms of economic condition or not. This is mainly because the current government has introduced some tough economic policies that have made a significant impact on the lives of Nigerians. Though the removal of fuel subsidy is necessary in the circumstances, it has made living conditions tough for Nigerians. Therefore, I would say that Nigerians are passing through difficult and worsening economic conditions.
I hope that things will improve as promised by the government. Government should introduce deliberate policies to cushion the effects of the economic policies on the people. The key focus of the policies should be to enable Nigerians to afford the necessities of life without too much stress”.
Where is the gain from subsidy removal going to? —Regina, civil servant
Regina, a civil servant, said, “I had thought that gains from the removal of the subsidy would be ploughed into roads, but this is not so. The rain is here, and as usual, the Warri-Sapele road in Delta State will be another hectic problem for travelers because of the deplorable state. It’s like the federal government has abdicated its responsibilities to state governments. We are not seeing the federal government’s impact in Delta State and several other states. The federal roads are so bad. Where is the gain from subsidy removal going to?”
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