“Tinubu pepper dem” – that’s the phrase that comes to mind when reflecting on President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office. If you’re Nigerian, you know how they say, “na person wey wear shoe sabi where e dey pinch am.” Well, we’ve all been pinched, squeezed, and outright peppered in ways we didn’t think possible. May 29th, 2023, marked the beginning of an era, and one year on, Has it been worth the suffering?
May 29th, 2023, was the day the newly elected President was inaugurated. Not everyone was happy about Tinubu’s win, given the controversies and grievances surrounding the election. But it was during his inaugural speech that he dropped a bombshell: “Fuel subsidy is gone,” he announced, without any clear plan or timeline to cushion the inevitable blow. And just like that, our troubles began.
Promises Made, Promises Broken?
Tinubu’s Administration promised to improve education, health, and social investment. He talked about expanding primary health centers, upgrading tertiary hospitals, and ensuring better access to healthcare. The Student Loans Act of 2024 and the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund were highlighted as measures to broaden access to education. Social welfare schemes, including cash transfers and microcredit programs, aimed to uplift vulnerable households and support small businesses.
But let’s examine the reality. ASUU is threatening another strike, and schools are increasing their fees. The poor man’s child can’t afford education now. Student loans, seriously? How will students repay these loans when there are no jobs to survive in this economy?
Economic Hardships
Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 33.69% in April 2024, up from 33.20% in March 2024. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the increasing cost of food commodities is a serious concern. The situation worsened after Tinubu announced the end of fuel subsidy payments. The effects were immediate: prices of goods and services, as well as transportation costs, skyrocketed.
Food is so expensive that many families are now rationing their meals. Eating three times a day has become a luxury.
The administration declared a state of emergency on food security and launched the National Agricultural Development Fund with N100 billion. Initiatives like the Dry Season Farming Initiative and the Green Imperative Programme aimed to promote year-round farming and provide farmers with modern equipment and low-interest loans. But where are the results?
Mrs. Evelyn, a garri seller in Edo state, lamented, “We are selling a bag of garri for N35,000 now, which used to be N7,000. A cup of Nigerian rice is N270, while beans is N250 per cup. Things are hard, oh.”
Security: A Perennial Problem
Tinubu inherited a country plagued by insecurity. While there were some reductions in kidnappings in the northwest, the overall security situation remains dire. Graduates serving their national youth service have been targets of kidnappers, and the government’s response has been lackluster at best. Remember the crowdfunding efforts to pay ransom for kidnapped citizens? It’s a sad state of affairs when citizens have to take such measures while the president is busy attending international summits.
Political Drama and Criticism
One year into Tinubu’s administration, Buhari wished him success, urging citizens to support Tinubu in building the Nigeria of our dreams. But which Nigeria is that? The Labour Party (LP) lawmakers have described Tinubu’s administration as one filled with empty promises. They criticized the rising insecurity and economic hardship, saying it negates Tinubu’s “renewed hope” campaign.
LP caucus leader Afam Ogene said, “What we see are failed promises. The ordinary man on the street is weeping and wailing, with pervasive hunger haunting millions of homes.”
Atiku Abubakar didn’t miss his chance to criticize Tinubu either. He claimed that Tinubu’s actions have worsened Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability, making the economy more fragile than ever. “All the economic ills – joblessness, poverty, and misery – which defined the Buhari-led administration have only worsened. Africa’s leading economy has slipped to fourth place, behind Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Citizens’ hopes have been dashed,” Atiku said.
Reflecting on One Year
It’s been a year of a lot of struggles. The removal of fuel subsidies led to rising costs of living and transportation. Despite high hopes, Nigeria is worse off than it was a year ago. As President Tinubu marks his first anniversary, we have to ask: How has this year been for you? Has it been all rosy, or have you seen the hardship that many Nigerians are enduring?
Tinubu promised a lot, but the reality has been a series of broken promises and increased suffering. As we look forward to another year under his leadership, will things get better, or are we in for more of the same? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Nigerians deserve better.
