An administration adrift as Nigeria’s struggles deepen

By Sadiq Muhammed
 
According to International Monetary Fund (IMF( report of 16 November, 2024 “Reforms in Nigeria Not Working,” the administration of President Bola Tinubu has become the fastest and most significant disappointment in Nigeria’s leadership history. It is an unequivocal failure on all fronts.
 
Under Tinubu’s watch, insecurity has worsened with the emergence of the Lakurawa terrorist group, which has exploited his flawed foreign policy decisions. The closure of Nigeria’s 1,400km border with Niger Republic, an arid nation, has backfired, allowing armed extremists to infiltrate Nigeria. This has further compounded an already dire security situation for which Tinubu appears to have no viable solutions.
 
Economically, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently reported a sharp decline in public and private sector confidence, with the Confidence Index dropping from 17% to 14% in its October survey. This reflects growing disillusionment with Tinubu’s erratic and experimental economic policies.
 
The healthcare sector is also in disarray, with over 50% of medical doctors in private practice forced to close their clinics due to low patient patronage and the soaring cost of imported medicines. This collapse in healthcare services highlights the government’s inability to address critical issues affecting ordinary Nigerians.
 
Yet, despite these glaring failures, a significant number of Nigeria’s intellectuals remain blind to the realities on the ground. It is disheartening that some of the nation’s most educated individuals, rather than driving progress, are complicit in its decline. They continue to rely on external organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has proven ineffective at addressing global challenges. As the saying goes, “He who wears the shoe knows where it pinches the most,” but Nigeria’s leadership seems content to take instructions from external powers, rather than crafting solutions tailored to the nation’s unique challenges.
 
Under Tinubu’s “Emilokan” administration, the cracks in every sector have deepened. Infrastructure remains in shambles, corruption is pervasive, and the national grid continues to collapse repeatedly. The national power grid has experienced nearly 30 collapses in just 20 months leading to job losses and a declining quality of life.

Public institutions are deteriorating, inflation is at record high, and the cost of living is unbearable for most Nigerians. The nation appears to be on a downward spiral, with no coherent plan or leadership to reverse the tide.
 
It is truly a tragic irony that those who should lead the charge for change are instead presiding over the destruction of a country with immense potential. We are in for a long ride on auto cruise. Allah ka sauke mu lafiya.

Muhammed can be reached at [email protected], 08056859039