New Nigeria: One presidency, By Kola Amzat
There is no gainsaid the fact that, the barely two months old Tinubu administration inherited very troubled economy, frightening unemployment, galloping inflation, nationwide insecurity, and most strikingly, a country that has retreated into regional lines and religious blocs.
Of course, the above disturbing package is enough to extinct and destabilize a country, as well as making its leadership completely lose focus and direction.
However, as daunting and overwhelming the aforementioned load of challenges looks, they don’t define Nigeria as a nation, neither do they paint the exact picture of who Nigerian people are.
Even though, the nation has been thoroughly mismanaged by set of successive leaders who were largely corrupt, very selfish, visionless, inept and generally incompetent, Nigeria remains a country of humongous endowments–incredible oil & gas deposits, myriads of solid minerals spread across the country, awesome diversity, very fertile land all over, all year round favorable and very predictable weather, fantastic oceans/seas, bringing forth everything and of course, very amazing, exciting, enterprising and ubiquitous people with capacity to do anything productive. Very few countries across the globe are as blessed.
This remains the picture of our dear nation and her resourceful, resilient and very hardworking people. It’s a country that has destiny to fulfil. Nigeria could seamlessly rebound, with right people at the helm of her affairs. Ours, is a country that could effortlessly finds itself in the midst of the great nations, if we get it right.
Instructively, the world super powers are conscious of this. This accounts for their continual circumspect and extreme cautious disposition in their relationship with Nigeria. No country of the world, even the highly revered America, Great Britain, China etc want to have any axe to grind with Nigeria.
But, it’s important we take the bull by the horns. It’s an auspicious time we collectively resolve to situate our nation exactly where it rightly belongs. And, this calls for collaboration of every Nigerian to ensure a one formidable and impregnable nation capable of holding her own in the international sphere.
In this highly competitive world with nations making spirited efforts to outdo and outplay one another, no nation would fight our battle except we all collaborate to ensure that Nigeria is placed properly amongst the global greats.
This is what should pre-occupy Nigerians regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation, political bias, sex or philosophy.
Fortunately, the country have been blessed with a contemporary and 21st Century leader, who has being leading the battle for renaissance Nigeria since he was inaugurated barely two months ago.
In ensuring that Nigeria is reset, refocus and reposition, the president has ensured that Aso Villa operational activities are properly and efficiently coordinated, with absolutely zero tolerance for discordant tunes.
Nigeria journey to the global stage could only manifest with her territorial integrity properly secured, and the entire country desirous to move in unison.
Of course, it’s a gross understatement to submit that President Tinubu has succeeded in re-inventing governance, making the nationals feel sense of belonging. With his open door policy, Nigerians from all walks of life irrespective of political affiliations feel free to visit the Villa with their relevant ideas and initiatives which are capable of bringing forth a new Nigeria.
The bold decision of the president to appoint new Service Chiefs, IG, new Comptroller General of Customs, new Immigration Chief, and host of new officers for military formations particularly for Villa and FCT, Abuja is already yielding fruits. Across the country, there seems to be relative peace & tranquility unlike what the nation has experienced years back. Military Authorities have ordered crack down on IPOB members and members of banditry that recently wreaked havoc in the South East zone and Plateau state respectively.
On the global front, President Tinubu attendance of the two-day Summit on New Global Financing Pact, recently hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, was a huge success as the president of the most populous black nation, on the sideline interacted and passionately marketed Nigeria for key government and business leaders around the globe, including French President, Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée, President of Swiss, Alain Berset, Prof. Benedict Oramah and President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud–Basso, as well Director General of World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim), Prof. Benedict Oramah and President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud–Basso.
The President also met with Senior Vice President of Airbus/ATR, Public Affairs, Laurent Rahul Domergue, on aviation matters and a two-hour marathon interaction with the Nigerian community based in France, where he outlined his vision for the economy, starting with a roadmap on palliatives to soothe the burden of subsidy removal.
Meanwhile, Nigerian president recently emerged as Chairman of ECOWAS, just barely two months after he ascended power and authority of the nation, a measure of trust & confidence by the leaders of West African governments on Nigeria leadership within the West African coast.
At home front, the president has taken far reaching decisions that, in a short while would be having reverberating and positive effects on the economy, infrastructures, security, education, agricultures, business and entrepreneurial etc.
In a bid to transform the tax system and most especially ensure that business activities and investment, as well as economic growth are not unduly stifled, the president has inaugurated a Tax Reform Committee with Terms of Reference to address the key challenges in Nigeria’s Tax system, including multiple taxes and revenue collection agencies, fragmented and complex tax system, high cost of revenue administration, lack of co-ordination between fiscal and monetary authorities, amongst other responsibilities of the committee. This initiative, when completed is expected to create orderliness and normalcy in the nation revenue drive.
The president’s recent declaration of a state of emergency on food security in Nigeria is a crucial and timely step towards addressing the pressing issue of food scarcity, as well as ensuring availability of portable water. The declaration christened “Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability and Resilience” is anchored on 5 pillars-Investing in Rural Infrastructure and Resilience, Empowering Small holder Farmers and Communities, Strengthening Value Chains and Market Systems, as well as Enhancing Agricultural Productivity. There exists no doubt that these measures would open a new chapter in the agricultural sector in our country.
It’s also instructive to note that there is relative calmness and order within the nation Apex Bank with the new helmsman in charge. The “thorough house-cleaning” of monetary policy which the president earlier promised is already manifesting with the implementation of unified exchange rate, a reforming initiative that would redirect funds from arbitrage into meaningful and productive investments that drive the real economy.
The regular presence of the Apex Bank governor in Aso Villa for meetings, is an indication that there is a new era of harmonization between fiscal and monetary policies, and of course, the nation economy would be better for the rapprochement.
It’s no more news that President Tinubu has signed into law Electricity Bill Act, a wonderful bill that authorizes states, companies and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity. The new bill repeals the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (ERSRA) that came into being in 2001. The law is designed to break the monopoly in electricity generation, transmission and distribution at the national level. Hitherto, the monopoly of electricity distribution resided with Federal Government as administered by the regulator-Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC).
It’s also already in the public domain that the president has assented to the Students’ Loan Bill, an life-changing initiative that provides interest-free loans to Nigerian students seeking higher education. The loan is accessible to all students seeking admission into public higher & Tertiary Institutions within Nigeria.
During the week, the federal government proposed that about 12 million households will get N8, 000 over a period of six months. This measure is designed to ameliorate the hardships faced by Nigerians as a result of subsidy removal. The President has also requested for the approval of National Assembly for $800 palliatives Loan from World Bank to further cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the populace.
Without any shadow of doubt, all moves of the president have been pragmatic, top-notch, decisive and problem-solving. The country now has purposeful direction, new focus and new vision.
In essence, President Tinubu two (2) months decisiveness might have succeeded in laying an indomitable foundation for the huge success of this administration in the next 4 years, and beyond.
The passionate appeal is to all Nigerians that as the Tinubu administration is assiduously driving nation on the path of prosperity, growth and development, and more importantly one Nigeria, let no one constitutes stumbling block and unnecessary cog.
Kola AMZAT (FCA)
LAGOS BASED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT,
09077509348
