In the high-octane realm of drama that is Nigeria’s political climate, where people desire quick fixes to ancient problems decades in the making, the first 100 days of a new government often endure harsh scrutiny, and so bitter men have sat bitterly and written bitter things about President Bola Tinubu’s first 100 days in office.
It would be complicity in bitterness not to redirect their attention to the landmark strides of the president. President Tinubu is widely regarded as the sunny day of a new summer that follows a cold winter of hibernation.
Two main metrics must be used to assess the Jagaban’s tenure in office — policy formulation and administrative appointments.
President Tinubu promised to hit the ground running, and he did. By announcing the two-pronged policies of removing the draining cankerworm that was the fuel subsidy and unifying exchange rates, he yanked the plaster off a festering sore that had rancidly compromised the economic health of Nigeria.
One truth that many Nigerians may not be eager to admit is that the fuel subsidy encouraged some degree of wastefulness in expenditure due to the cheapness of fuel, and it slowed down Nigeria’s shift to more renewable sources of energy.
Indeed, the multiple exchange rates that the country was also practicing meant that certain powerful people were crippling the naira through underhand acquisition of forex.
Unfortunately, merchants of fortune have capitalized on these policies to whip up sentiment and encourage unrest in the country following the adoption of these policies.
President Tinubu’s economic policies have shown a clear vision for rebuilding the economy in a way that renews the hope of all Nigerians, but pressure groups must be careful not to act irrationally and in a way that makes them remembered on the wrong side of history.
The appointment of a seasoned economist as the Minister of Finance and a focus on stimulating the currency through deregulation have laid the groundwork for a robust economic recovery despite the initial birthing pangs perorated by actors serving their own private interests.
We have saved nearly two trillion naira that would have gone down the drain in the name of subsidy, and investor confidence is at an all-time high. The administration’s commitment to creating jobs, raising the minimum wage, and investing in infrastructure is a testament to their dedication to addressing economic disparities and ensuring prosperity for all.
It is a testament to the democratic disposition of the president that he has not even considered clamping down on free speech in the country. Instead, he has encouraged dialogue and by adopting a listening ear, he has had to adjust these policies to mitigate their influence on the polity.
For instance, power supply has been at the forefront of the president’s administration. The flag-off of the Gwagwalada Independent Thermal Power Plant (Phase 1) which will add 350 MW to the country’s power supply and the president’s encouragement of the decentralization of electricity, as evidenced by his speedy signing of the Electricity Act 2023, show his forward-thinking ability to address emergent challenges.
His rejig of the hierarchy of the country’s armed forces has also inspired confidence and further boosted the morale of the troops.
President Tinubu appears poised to be able to make a significant difference in the security situation in Nigeria, especially with his key security appointments and his promise to provide every assistance the army needs to combat insecurity.
The army has, in fact, been largely successful in its coordinated offensives against bandits who have formed a habit of lurking about in the Northern forests of Nigeria.
