Tinubu expected to make Nigerians more secure, less poor

Quadri Yahya 

Already, the inauguration of Nigeria’s 16th president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu is underway at Eagle Square, Abuja before the official handover takes place on May 29. 

By Monday, Tinubu would lead a new administration to steer the affairs of Nigeria for the next four years as President Muhammadu Buhari bows out of office. 

And just like other candidates challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s candidate at the election petition tribunal, Tinubu’s manifesto contains theoretical solutions to the country’s many problems. 

The former Lagos governor often boasts of providing a blueprint useful in the process of transforming Lagos to a megacity, even though he admitted it would be difficult to replicate the transformative agenda nationwide. 

But beyond the rhetoric, Nigerians expect Tinubu to make them more secure and less poor; feasible solutions to challenges wrestling with various parts of the country. 

In other words, it is hoped that Tinubu would make life better for the people than his party mate, President Buhari, who would be leaving office after eight years troubled by insecurity, inflation and towering debts. 

Under Tinubu’s predecessor, Buhari, the poverty rate peaked at 63% of the total population of 200 million. This means that out of every 1000 Nigerians, 665 people are multidimensionally poor either by living standards, health, education or work. 

The Poverty map built by the National Bureau of Statistics shows  health care contribute 34.4%, living standards 33.6%, education poverty with 17.9% and work and security shocks contributed the least with 14.1%.

“Multidimensional poverty is higher in rural areas, where 72% of people are poor, compared to 42% of people in urban areas”, the office statistics stated, adding that two-thirds (67.5%) of children between age 0–17 are poor, and half (51%) of all poor people are children.

Also, Buhari would bequeath a striking inflation to Tinubu. 

Findings show that in May 2015 when Buhari assumed office, inflation rate was 9% but in a period of eight years, it rapidly rose to 13.22%, rising 59 times

An analysis shows that the inflation rate rose 59 times under the Buhari-led 

Commenting on this, a medical laboratory scientist and medical writer, Ibrahim Moshood said “whatever magic he (Tinubu) has to perform, the economy needs to be revived and set on the path of growth. 

The Lagos State resident added, “There’s hunger in the land. Prices are ever increasing. Local inflation is soaring. Naira continues to depreciate. Global inflation skyrockets.

“In fact, this (economy) and insecurity will be the major yardstick to measure the success of his government. So, he needs to deliver on this,” Moshood added. 

Furthermore, no jobs for the country’s workforce as 23.18 million persons in Nigeria either did nothing or worked for less than 20 hours a week, making them unemployed during the fourth quarter of 2020.

The 33.3% unemployed rate still stands as the highest ever in the country. 

A trader in Giri market, Abuja, Ngozi Uche said Tinubu should prioritize job creation. 

She said: “The incoming administration should provide jobs for our youth. Once there are jobs, there are threats such as robbery, kidnapping, and killing.” 

Beside all these, Nigerians with dying hopes have great expectations that Tinubu, who appealed with the ‘RenewedHope’ mantra, would solve the issue of insecurities haunting the nooks and crannies of the country. 

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