BY Ebuka Nwankwo
Yes, the presidency doesn’t need to struggle, it has a foundation it can build on. No matter how corrupt you might argue that the last administration was, they left some good initiatives and policies for Buhari. If you analyze the information and culture minister’s recent idea on how to create jobs, you would observe that he is struggling. He is not alone, virtually all the ministers are struggling to make impacts.
Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, explained the other day how a big Igbo masquerade could create over 1000 jobs. The jobs would come from dressing and undressing the masquerade. I suspect he was talking about our very own IJELE masquerade. This so ‘pissed’ one young man on the social media that he had to ask if the minister could recommend such job for his son or daughter. Another young man reminded his audience that the IJELE, AGABA and OJIONU of this world are very diabolical. Well, some missed the point and some had legitimate arguments. If you are hypertensive, I recommend some of those rant on Twitter for you. It would surely make you laugh and reduce your blood pressure.
In this article, I will talk about some initiatives, or rather policies, initiated by the last administration that the president needs to build on to stabilize his government. I know that with the recent corruption scandals, being unearthed by the EFCC, some of you might not want to hear anything about the last administration. Well, I will advise you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Before I go into the conversation, let me remind you of an event that happened before the elections. Remember Jonathan’s Clean Cook Stove that had about N9 billion allocated for it. This was seen as a big fraud and was highly criticized by the then opposition party. However, if you go to our rural areas, you will observe that our women are dying slowly, unknowingly. Smoke from charcoal used in cooking, and in activities like ‘smoking’ fish even in urban areas, is a major cause of cancer.
And the problem with cancer is that when you hear of it, you think it cannot happen to you. It can happen to anyone. It is made worse because in Nigeria, a country with a population of 182 million people, we used to have only nine radiotherapy machines. A report even states that as at October 2015 only the one at National Hospital Abuja was functioning. And it breaks down most of the time due to stress and the erratic nature of power supply in the country. Little wonder our women are dying in churches and in their homes in the villages.
The above is actually not the meat of this discourse. But, we should note that if anyone lives long enough, chances are that such a person will suffer from one form of cancer or the other. And in Nigeria, if you are really sick, you will die. Our hospitals are in shambles. Since this is a topic for another day, let’s revert back to our main discussion.
This brings to mind the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP). This plan outlined a roadmap on how the country could overcome its infrastructure deficit by investing about $2 trillion in the next 30 years, from 2014. If the current oil price cannot allow us follow this plan, then the presidency should amend it with the initiators of the roadmap. He doesn’t need to look too far.
What about the Gas Master Plan? Nigeria has a gas reserve of about 182 trillion cubic feet. Gas is a very clean source of energy and it’s badly needed in Nigeria and in other foreign countries. The master plan enumerated strategies on how Nigeria’s gas infrastructure could be improved upon. Buhari just has to revisit this plan, and maybe improve it.
That reminds me of Youwin. I was one of the people who thought that the Youwin programme didn’t make sense. Granted, some of the beneficiaries might have squandered the grants given them by government. But, I have seen a couple of young people who have become millionaires as a result of the Youwin grants. I know one who has over 20 people working for her, and she pays their salaries as at when due. Buhari could modify this programme to fit his social welfare scheme.
Now this might be the most controversial point, but it makes a lot of sense. Have you noticed that the oil price has gone up a bit in the last three weeks? But, sadly, Nigeria is not really benefitting from this increment. Few days ago, Chevron’s Okan field was attacked by some militants. Shell’s Forcados facilities had earlier been attacked. Numerous pipelines have also been attacked. There is a new wave of militancy, which is causing a lot of economic loss to Nigeria. In fact, cuts in production in Nigeria have been partly responsible for the rise in oil price. What am I trying to say? Buhari should work with Jonathan to address this militancy.
It might send a wrong signal to see Buhari hobnobbing with Jonathan, considering all the latest corruption scandals we have just heard. But, Jonathan’s experience is needed to rein in on these militants. This is not to say Buhari should follow Jonathan’s approach, but he would surely get one or two inspirations from Jonathan.
Rounding off, Lai Mohammed’s job creation idea should be worked on. Tourism can still bring in money. Never mind Nigeria is seen as an insecure country – I have argued, in one of my articles, that we can still earn some forex from tourism.
Ahem, that reminds me of some cultural extinction taking place in Nigeria. Our very own IJELE masquerade was listed in UNESCO’s archives as an intangible cultural element in need for urgent safeguarding. Lai Mohammed should take note of this, I suspect he has. The Igbos love their masquerades. I remember as a stubborn child, my aunt used to call me AGABA, anytime I displayed some of those warrior-like prowess of the AGABA masquerade.
Like I earlier said, Buhari has no need to struggle. He has things he can build on – I am happy the minister of finance just said they will build on Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). Buhari only needs to bring in the honesty we know him for into the table.