Tough challenges ahead for new Nigerian president

The new president of Nigeria faces numerous challenges during his tenure and arduous efforts are needed to achieve sustained economic growth and security in the country, said analysts.

Bola Tinubu of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress party won the country’s presidential election earlier this month.

Tinubu’s win came as the largest economy in Africa faces myriad challenges, ranging from violent extremism, political instability, economic downturn, corruption and an ineffective judicial system.

Friday Odeh, the country director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, a nongovernmental organization, said the priority for the new leaders in Nigeria is to create a government of national unity and inclusion.

“One that showcases representation of people who are capable across the different strata of society in a powerful and important position,” he said.

“Then there is the issue of insecurity and the economic downturn of the country. These need to be addressed. For development to be assured, properties and lives of citizens must first be protected.”

Nigeria has to work toward a steady power supply, he said, referring to Tinubu’s campaign mantra of removing fuel subsidies.

“Fuel generators should be things of the past in the next four years. The president-elect, in his manifesto, addressed how he intends to do these things. We would follow up and ensure that we hold him accountable to his words,” he said, wishing Tinubu well.

Similarly, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre also noted that Tinubu should pay attention to the economy, fighting corruption, security, and the justice system reform among others.

Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the executive director of CISLAC, said that Nigeria’s economy faces a number of challenges.

“Despite the increased price of crude oil, Nigeria’s main export in the international markets, Nigeria is unable to meet its OPEC production quota. In agriculture, floods have destroyed farmlands in over 20 states of the federation, thus exacerbating the looming threat of food insecurity.”

Rafsanjani said that in terms of investigating allegations of corruption perpetrated in the past, not enough has been done to plug leakages and ensure such incidents do not reoccur.

In terms of the judiciary system, the executive director stated, “Nigeria has one of the highest pretrial detainee populations. Cases in courts are so slow that many avoid legal processes at all costs and are willing to live with injustices or accept inhumane settlements in lieu of legal proceedings,” he said.

“However, Nigeria is built on the firm belief that courts are the final arbiters of citizens. Through reforms, the justice sector can be reformed to meet the needs of the masses.”

The director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Lawal, pointed out the need for the president-elect to urgently set up a transition committee on the economy, to make recommendations and set broad policy directions in order to inspire investors’ confidence and deepen legitimacy.