Hardship Protest: Let’s avoid doom’s day, by
Prof. M.K. Othman
Deep Thought with Othman
Pressure is mounting, the time is ticking, and the atmosphere is pregnant with flammable air waiting for a minute spark to explode, marking the arrival of Doom’s Day. The inferno of Doom’s Day may consume all of us and our belongings. In the inferno, there would be no king or enslaved people, as all would have one status: fire victims. We must do everything to avoid the arrival of Doom’s Day by relieving the pressure causing the atmospheric pregnancy, which has disastrous potential. The last four days in Nigeria have witnessed exponential pressure increases, resulting in turmoil due to the nationwide protests under the banner #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria. This is akin to inches toward Doom’s Day.
When the idea of nationwide protests surfaced, we all hoped for a swift resolution to ease the hardship and bring an end to the protests. However, as the protests began, it became clear that our prayers for immediate relief had gone unanswered. The D-day was set for August 1, 2024, and the need for urgent action was undeniable.
These protests, caused by many years of long-standing, widespread frustrations over massive hunger, corruption, poor governance, insecurity, and high energy costs, reflect the deep-seated grievances of the Nigerian populace. They mount the pressure and make the atmosphere pregnant. The grievances need to be understood and appropriately addressed to defuse the tension. Before and during the protests, many of us highly anticipated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the nation, offer practical solutions to the protests’ root causes, and reassure the country of his readiness to address all the contending issues. Predictably, the President addressed the nation on August 4, 2024, and acknowledged the people’s pains caused by his economic reform to many years of economic doldrums caused by poor and incompetent leadership. He stated, “For decades, our economy has remained anemic and dipped because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth” and further added, “I, therefore, took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.” In some areas, the speech creates hope for a better tomorrow in the long run. Economic forms of fuel subsidy removal and the unification of the FX market are essential steps towards creating a more stable and transparent economic environment. Now, with the directive of the President to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in local currency and the emergence of modular refineries, Nigerians are likely to have a stable supply of petroleum products at a lower cost. Another issue was the Youth Empowerment Programs aimed at empowering the youth and creating jobs, such as the student loan scheme and various technical training programs. These programs can potentially harness the democratic dividends of Nigeria’s young population. Similarly, the ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects could improve connectivity and economic activities if implemented effectively. However, despite the seeming promise of a better tomorrow, the protests continue. Why?
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At least four critical issues were not adequately addressed in the speech. First, the speech lacks immediate relief and solutions for hunger and the high costs of the necessities of life. No immediate, transparent measures were taken to alleviate the hunger-related issues that drove the protests. The President said, “We are providing incentives to farmers to increase food production at affordable prices. I have directed that tariffs and other import duties should be removed on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the next six months, in the first instance, to help drive down the prices.” The incentives can only support dry-season farmers, who constitute less than 15% of the farming population because it is too late for the current wet season. Food importation with USD can hardly bring down the prices of foodstuffs in Nigerian markets with Naira.
The second crucial issue that needed to be adequately addressed in the speech was the need for robust anti-corruption measures. The President’s reaffirmation of anti-corruption efforts do not state new, specific actions to tackle pervasive corruption. With concrete steps, public trust remains high, and the need for transparency and accountability in governance becomes even more pressing.
Another thorny issue is inadequate security provisions against insurgency and banditry. The speech did not include detailed strategies to address ongoing insecurity. Banditry has driven many small and medium-scale farmers out of the farming business, and security assurance will allow millions of rural dwellers to return to their farms and produce food. The last was the lack of immediate solutions to the high energy costs and frequent power outages that hinder productivity and economic growth.
Nevertheless, the situation is not out of our hands, and we must avoid Doom’s Day for all concerned Nigerians, both within and without. As the nation’s leader, the President must take the helm in this journey of immediate relief of the tension in the country. The occasion calls for the immediate convening of the National Council of States, where governors must be reminded of their responsibilities of good governance in their states. They have earned substantial allocations since the withdrawal of fuel subsidies, but there is little commensurate developmental evidence in their states. It is time they account for their actions and take steps to address the issues at hand. Nigerians must equally hold governors responsible and accountable.
The next step is to launch nationwide food relief programs to address hunger and provide immediate support to vulnerable populations. This urgent measure can help alleviate the suffering of many Nigerians. As a temporary measure, the government may import limited food items to complement the 2024 wet season harvest and help reduce prices for affordability. This will provide immediate relief to those in need and pave the way for a more sustainable solution in the future.
On corruption charges, the government should establish a high-level task force with clear mandates to investigate and prosecute corruption cases swiftly and transparently. There should be no plea bargain allowing criminals to enjoy their loot. This will restore public trust and deter future corrupt practices. On the bedeviling insecurity, the government should establish a comprehensive security strategy involving increased funding for law enforcement, community policing initiatives, and addressing root causes of violence, firearms smuggling, and dislodging of all known bandits’ camps. The molls in the security personnel must be flushed out and prosecuted. Enhanced support for security forces and community policing initiatives is crucial and highly needed at our level of development. These measures will significantly improve the security situation in the country.
The government should accelerate energy sector reforms by investing in renewable energy projects and incentivizing private sector participation to reduce energy costs and improve reliability. God has endowed this country with unlimited agricultural resources. Therefore, the government must heavily invest in agriculture and manufacturing to boost domestic production, create jobs, and reduce import dependency. A robust domestic production strategy can help stabilize the economy by reducing the country’s reliance on foreign goods and improving food security.
With our population of over 200 million people, human capital development is very desirable. Thus, the government should invest in education and healthcare to ensure long-term economic growth. Rather than heavy investment in student loans, the government should provide grants in the form of scholarships and tuition-free tertiary education. As a short-term measure, FGN should immediately pay the university workers all their withheld salaries and earned allowances to boost their morale and win their confidence for effective services. They should be paid monthly wages through collective bargaining. Another area needing government attention is infrastructure development. The government should accelerate infrastructure projects that have the potential to boost economic activity. Public-private partnerships can be an effective way to fund and implement these projects.
The last is reducing the costs of governance, especially the salaries and allowances of all National Assembly members, political appointees, and reduce number of foreign trips, aids, ministers, and unnecessary luxuries. The need for prudent use of limited financial resources cannot be overemphasized. Avoiding Doom’s Day requires all hands to be on deck. May the Almighty God guide and protect Nigeria, amen.
Professor Othman is the Executive Director of National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), ABU Zaria.
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