Putting Nigeria on the Path of Recovery 100 days of Tinubu: A bright Summer’s Day

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 Ahmed 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 practising meant that certain powerful people were crippling the naira through the underhand acquisition of forex. Unfortunately, merchants of fortune have capitalised 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 pejorated by actors serving their 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 been largely successful in its coordinated offensives against bandits who have formed a habit of lurking about in the Northern forests of Nigeria.

Beyond the economic dimension of President Tinubu’s administration are the strategic appointments that he has been making in the past 100 days. One of the key indicators of the president’s strong leadership, for which people voted him in, is his ability to surround himself with talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. President Tinubu has excelled in this regard by assembling a cabinet that mirrors the rich tapestry of our nation. Their appointments have been characterized by a commitment to expertise, experience, and inclusivity.

Nigerian youths, who have largely felt marginalised in politics, have enjoyed higher representation under the Tinubu administration. The Buhari administration, despite delivering key infrastructural developments, was criticised because of the exclusion of youths from governance. Under Tinubu, the average age of the administration’s appointments has been between 46 and 50 years. The president has surrounded himself with youths, even as ministers in his cabinet. These are specialists and bright young fellows. He has also appointed special advisers who are updated on international best practices and who can help the president fulfill his promise to retool Nigeria to advance to the next level.

President Tinubu’s first 100 days in office have been marked by astute appointments and visionary policy formulations that bode well for the future of our nation. With a diverse and competent cabinet, a focus on youth development and women empowerment, an inclusive economic recovery plan, a commitment to sustainability, and a diplomatic approach to international relations, the administration has shown the potential to lead Nigeria toward a brighter and more promising future. As we look ahead, there is every reason to believe that President Tinubu will continue to make strides in addressing the pressing issues of our time and working towards a more prosperous and inclusive nation-state.

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 Ahmed 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 practising meant that certain powerful people were crippling the naira through underhand acquisition of forex. Unfortunately, merchants of fortune have capitalised 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 pejorated 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.

Beyond the economic dimension of President Tinubu’s administration are the strategic appointments that he has been making in the past 100 days. One of the key indicators of the president’s strong leadership, for which people voted him in, is his ability to surround himself with talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. President Tinubu has excelled in this regard by assembling a cabinet that mirrors the rich tapestry of our nation. Their appointments have been characterized by a commitment to expertise, experience, and inclusivity.

Nigerian youths, who have largely felt marginalised in politics, have enjoyed higher representation under the Tinubu administration. The Buhari administration, despite delivering key infrastructural developments, was criticised because of the exclusion of youths from governance. Under Tinubu, the average age of the administration’s appointments has been between 46 and 50 years. The president has surrounded himself with youths, even as ministers in his cabinet. These are specialists and bright young fellows. He has also appointed special advisers who are updated on international best practices and who can help the president fulfil his promise to retool Nigeria to advance to the next level.

President Tinubu’s first 100 days in office have been marked by astute appointments and visionary policy formulations that bode well for the future of our nation. With a diverse and competent cabinet, a focus on youth development and women empowerment, an inclusive economic recovery plan, a commitment to sustainability, and a diplomatic approach to international relations, the administration has shown the potential to lead Nigeria towards a brighter and more promising future. As we look ahead, there is every reason to believe that President Tinubu will continue to make strides in addressing the pressing issues of our time and working towards a more prosperous and inclusive nation-state.

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