2022: Tough Times Ahead As Uncertainty Awaits Nigerians

January 02, (THEWILL) – As Nigerians enter the New Year, the stark reality of life is beginning to dawn on many. Soon many will be asking what 2022 holds for them as they look back at the immediate past year with a shudder and wonder if there will be an end to the challenges facing the country at the moment, including insecurity, which has persistently disrupted human lives and the livelihoods of many families, with every part of the country under convulsion from banditry, terrorism, kidnapping for ransom and killings by “unknown gunmen.”

Against the background of the worsening insecurity and epileptic electricity supply still lagging at 5,000 megawatts for years, despite huge financial investments and support to the sector by the Federal Government, new tariffs, taxes, increase in fuel prices and electricity tariffs, as well as other tough measures are coming in 2022, courtesy of the Federal Government.

Tough times and hardship, no doubt, now stare many Nigerians in the face. Although the New Year is expected to bring with it new challenges, for most Nigerians, it is going to be a very tough year as the signs are already here with us.  Labour is threatening fire and brimstone as general strikes are expected everywhere, with the private sector already preparing for a massive layoff of staff because of the difficult operating environment.

Also, with mounting domestic and foreign debts being incurred by government at all levels amid increasing drop in revenues, life for the ordinary Nigerian promises to be brutish.

Wanted: Govt. Policies With Human Face

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with eyes on the Cross River State governorship position in 2023, Senator Gershom Bassey, believes that government policies must come with a human face. Speaking with THEWILL on Friday, Bassey said basic amenities and public infrastructure that would make life easy for the masses have to be provided first before the imposition of new tariffs, taxes and the proposed hike in fuel prices.

“Those are the only things the masses enjoy. We should do everything possible to provide for them before even thinking of introducing measures that will further compound their problems. … And for all our elections, both primaries and general elections, the will of the people must prevail. The government should ensure the sanctity of all our elections. One of the best ways to ensure this is through the signing of the Electoral Bill with provisions for direct primaries. The Electoral Amendment Bill, an excellent bill, should be signed and implemented,” Bassey said.

Obong Akan Udofia (OAU), a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and a frontline governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State , is optimistic about the future despite the headwinds ahead. He said: “There is no doubt that we are in dire times but I am an optimist and believe we have the capacity as leaders both in the private sector and in government to improve the lives of our citizens with sound economic decisions.

“Our policies at all levels have to be 100 per cent  people focused like the current administration in my state under the excellent leadership of his Excellency, Udom Emmanuel. Government must focus on getting citizens to be productive; to start new businesses that will create new jobs and supporting them with incentives, subsidies and tax breaks in the process. Human capital development is key in all of this. Until that is done, I don’t think it wise and sound to introduce new tariffs on things that affect the daily lives of the struggling majority in our country.”

Year of Patriots

Commenting on the New Year, Professor of Political Economy and Management, Pat Utomi, who is currently on vacation in the United States, described 2022 as the Year of Patriots.

Warning that Nigeria’s future and survival might depend on the events that take place in 2022, he said, “All patriots must realise that 2022 is the year of the patriots. Unless they wake up and get 2022 right, we may not have a country in five years.”

Utomi noted that the country’s problem was not about the ‘big men’ leadership syndrome but a systemic malaise that must be completely overhauled through a proper orientation of the prevailing unpatriotic mindset towards a new culture of value and way of doing things as witnessed in countries, such as Singapore, Rwanda and Brazil.

He said that prevailing trends indicate that the “narcissism” of the political elite in Nigeria was pushing the country to a “downward spiral.”

Lamenting that “religious and economic cleavages” will bring Nigeria into anarchy, he added, “My desperate plea is that we must completely turn the system over. If we do not, I doubt if we will have a Nigeria by 2027.”

Also a former Nigerian Ambassador to The Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, expressed the fear that the economic situation in the country might deteriorate further in 2022 unless efforts are made to halt the downward slide of the economy.

“I’m particularly worried that things are likely to deteriorate because I can’t see the efforts being made to ameliorate the present difficult economic situation,” he told THEWILL in an interview on Thursday.

Farounbi also warned that the prevailing security situation might become even more complicated in the absence of an effective response from the Federal Government.  “The danger posed by the unrestrained invasion and violent action by elements of the ISWAP and ISGS indicates that insecurity of life and property may be the greatest problem in the New Year,” he said.

He advised that government at all levels to confront headlong the issue of security.  “Where there is a need for constitutional rearrangement, this must be done so that state and local police can be created, well staffed and well equipped. Government at all levels must tackle issues of hunger, poverty and joblessness. They must take a look at the economy so that more value can be added to agricultural and industrial production,” he said.

Faith In Government Now Shaky

The leader of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, admitted that he nursed the same fears about the state of affairs in the country as most Nigerians.

“The fear, that political leaders in charge of the nation’s affairs seem to have lost focus between what is the fundamental need of the masses and what is mundane, worries me.

“They seem to be more focused on politics and the next election. I think the fear of every Nigerian is founded on the basis of the failure in managing this nation’s affairs. There is stagnation in infrastructure; lack of focus on the economy – with the Ministry of Finance talking about all manner of new taxes every day. “Unemployment is on the increase. Poverty is worsening and faith in government is now quite shaky,” Shettima told THEWILL.

‘Prepare For The Worst’

The Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Jos, Dr Major Adeyi, said his fears for 2022 are rooted in the country’s political system and leadership malfunction.

Speaking to THEWILL, Adeyi pointed out that the real and present danger in 2022 lies in the Federal Government’s insensitivity to the looming danger and threats to national peace and harmony.

In as much as this insensitivity grates public confidence and diminishes the legitimacy and credibility of the government, he argued, the interest and wellbeing of the electorate should be a guide to the government in working out interventions and intervening policies that would steer the national economy in the new year.

“Regrettably, the current administration is quite insensitive to the effect that as it is winding up, concentration will drop further as much as public confidence will, leading to mismanagement and waste of scarce resources, lack of succour, increase in crime, violence and general insecurity,” he said.

Since it has failed to match policy review with corresponding palliatives and cushioning measures, Adeyi wants the government to equip the Police and other security agencies to be able to adequately respond to a possible upsurge in crime and allied crises that will be generated by hardship in the New Year.

He called on Nigerians to prepare for the worst by working out self-reliant modules and options for themselves. He advised individuals to spend less, avoid waste and create wealth.

Life Will Be Truly Brutish

For civil society activist and member of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Sam Aluko, 2022 is unfolding with a package of nightmares and undesirables that would make life a truly brutish experience for Nigerians.

Claiming that he had seen a lot of problems ahead, beginning with insecurity, Aluko predicted that government’s woes would worsen in this area as security challenges would be further compounded by food insecurity.

According to him, matters do not look promising in the face of President Muhammadu Buhari’s woeful failure to diversify the economy and create opportunities that will reduce poverty and rejuvenate the economy.

He said that having performed so shoddily in the past six years, the present administration lacked the ingenuity and seriousness of purpose to cause a favourable turn-around in 2022.

Aluko told this newspaper that President Buhari’s refusal to sign the new Electoral Act Amendment 2021 as a huge harbinger of some doomsday in the political and economic process of 2022.

Worsening Insecurity

Governor Nasri el-Rufai of Kaduna State is concerned about the worsening insecurity that has been ravaging his state alongside Katsina State, whose governor, Aminu Masari , last week urged his people to buy guns and be ready to defend themselves against marauding bandits. Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger states are not left out, according to the Kaduna State governor.

El-Rufai advocated the crushing of banditry in 2022 since, according to him,  one of the three-point agenda of President Buhari is to tackle insecurity.

“Banditry has enveloped the whole North-West. Because of it, we could not conduct an election in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area. What would the whole of Northeast be like in 2023 if left unchecked? We are going to see the end of banditry in 2022 because we cannot go into elections with this problem. Before going into election in 2023, banditry must be crushed,” he said.

El-Rufai spoke as the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed on Thursday that the biggest challenge that Nigeria faced in 2021 was insecurity.

Speaking at a briefing held in Lagos to showcase the achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2021, Mohammed, who had held on for long to his submission that insecurity had been tamed and the terrorists and bandits had been ‘technically defeated,”  admitted for the first time that the worsening insecurity was, indeed, worrisome.

The minister’s admission was not only an eye opener, but also a revelation of the depth of the security crises that would still pose serious challenges to the country in 2022 and perhaps, beyond.

“Let me admit straightaway that the year has not been devoid of challenges. For the outgoing year, in particular, the major challenge has been that of insecurity,”  Mohammed said in the opening sentence of his long address that listed 100 achievements of the administration in the areas of infrastructural development, construction of roads and rehabilitation of the railway system; passage of the Petroleum Industry Act; the various enabling task forces and other operations set up across the country by the Armed Forces of Nigeria to enhance security; expansion of N-Power social scheme; inauguration of 5-G Network; NIN registration; refinery refurbishment and improved economy, among others.

Hyperinflation Looms 

The National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Prince (Dr) Anthony Omojola, warns against a higher inflation rate than ever witnessed in the country in 2022 due to an increase in the volume of liquid cash in circulation as political activities begin in earnest.

“As it is widely known, during election years, there is normally more money in circulation and if it is not well managed, it could lead to ardent inflation, which is inimical to the survival of the poor. Hence, I will call on our economic managers to brace up for this in the overall interest of the country,” he was quoted as saying.

Way Forward

In self-defence and sustenance, Aluko proposed a revolutionary pan-Nigeria agenda that will see citizens come out en masse and vote against the undesirable elements that have been manipulating the system against the will of the people. He said the present corrupt system must be deflated and neutralised for a credible leadership to be elected and erected.

Former diplomat, Farounbi, believes that all Nigerians must rise up to protect themselves.

He said, “Like Governor Masari said, they must acquire weapons to defend themselves. They must be at all times ready to offer a first level of defence when attacked. That was the advice given by the Minister of Defence, a few months ago.

“Nigerians must tackle the issue of food production as a means of banishing hunger and poverty. Food insecurity can always generate mass insecurity.”

On his expectations for surviving the challenges of the new year, Arewa youth leader, Shettima said, “I expect Nigerian political leaders to pay more attention to the comfort of the people who have voted them into power because the suffering is too much. I expect that, by now, our leaders, especially the President, will avoid giving excuses on our national challenges.

“I expect the New Year to be another chance for the Federal Government to buckle up by introducing new policies and strategies for making the life of all Nigerians much better than, at least, the type of life they lived in the preceding year. I expect the Federal Government to reduce the tendency of excessive  borrowing from international monetary agencies and look inwards for proper utilisation of available funds.

“Let there be a change in the style of governance and management of the nation’s resources for common good.  After that, we can urge some Nigerians to try to improve their life-style from cheating to survive, back to legitimately working hard to survive. Let the leaders set good example by being as selfless as possible and the followers amend their ways. If this happens, then Nigeria will be more exciting to live in,” Shettima said.

A cross section of residents in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, suggested the trimming of unnecessary expenditures as a possible solution to the impending hardship in the 2022 fiscal year.

The Deputy Registrar, Information, at the Benue State University, Makurdi, Mr. Tser Vanger, observed that government’s threat to end fuel subsidy with its attendant hike in transport fares is an indication that there will be untold hardship in 2022.

“This inevitably comes with a hike in transport fares and consequently, prices of goods and services,” Vanger said.

Noting that the expectations are enormous, he advised the government to end insecurity so that farmers can go to their farms and make food affordable to Nigerians in need.

In spite of the negative trend, he said the way forward for Nigerians is to cut down unnecessary expenditure and invest in high yielding offers.

Also, a Makurdi-based media practitioner, Mr. Edward Kwaghaondo, faulted the Federal Government’s policy on subsidy, warning the All Progressives Congress-dominated government not to dampen the already diminishing spirit of Nigerians with the proposed increase in pump price.

According to him, the said new price regime in fuel pump price will surely trigger protests of such magnitude as the #EndSARS protests of 2021.

Kwaghaondo, however, cautioned Nigerians against extravagant lifestyles that would cost their families untold hardship in 2022.

Alarmed at the move by the government to insist on going ahead with an increase in fuel and electricity hike in the New Year, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday, December 30, 2021 began to mobilise its 36 state chapters for the battle ahead.

In a statement by its General-Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC directed its state executives to convene council meetings in order to begin sensitisation for protest rallies in all the states on January 27, 2022.

In the letter titled, “Congress Led Protest In All 36 States of the Federation on 27th 2022 Against Plans By The Federal Government to Increase The Pump Price of Petrol”, Ugboaja recalled the December 17, 2021 meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), where it was decided that January 27, 2022 was chosen as a day set aside for protests in all the 36 states of the federation against the Federal Government’s plan to increase the pump price of petrol. He therefore directed that SEC meetings be held across the states to reach out to all civil society allies in the mobilisation effort.

According to Ugboaja, together with a group, People’s Alternative Political Movement, a coalition of individuals and organisations and the Socialist Transformation of Nigeria, which rejected the impending hikes in price of fuel, electricity and gas,  Labour will “organise another Occupy Nigeria Protests on the 10th anniversary of the first one in January 2022.”

Investigations by THEWILL show that the Federal Government is still uncertain about the increase in electricity tariff, even as the World Bank recently warned against it. The recent increase in fees for meter applications appeared to have been stalled. Many who rushed to apply have been told to wait as the government has not opened the portal for payment. An official of National Electricity Regulatory Agency confided in this newspaper, on the condition of anonymity, that the government may go back on its proposal as it was still undecided whether to expand its free metering programme to cover more Nigerians across the states in the face of opposition to the proposed hike or not.

‘We Shall Overcome’

However, a Bayelsa-based opinion leader, Mr Egberi Amapo, has said that he is optimistic about 2022 and his expectations for the year are very high. According to him, all hope is not lost because Nigerians, being resilient, proactive and hopeful, should not envisage anything evil for the country.

Amapo expressed the belief that an average Nigerian can easily adapt and adjust to any condition, adding that a few years ago when civil servants were owed salaries the Bayelsa State Government negotiated for half salary payment and nobody died as a result, while the state remained peaceful till that phase passed.

The entire country, he noted, could experience a similar situation in 2022 without a devastating results. “No new year has come without producing its own peculiar challenges, but people still cope. Be it new tarrifs, taxes and other tough measures the Federal Government has promised to introduce. We shall overcome them,” he said as he expressed  full confidence.

More Reactions

Also reacting, A PDP Chieftain in Ogun State and spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Segun Sowunmi, said, “The challenges and fear in the new year is that the Muhammadu Buhari administration has been borrowing money anyhow.  Nigerians are dying, the economy is not growing well, poverty is very heavy in the land and inflation is crazy. About 90 per cent of our revenue will be used to service debts.”

But an APC chieftain in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Georgeman Etim, argued that it was not right to conclude that 2022 would be tougher than the past years.

Etim said, “We saw the June 12 issue with all it potentials of explosion. It was not as bad as expected. If you look at leadership, it is about taking decisions. Sometimes we take very rough decisions when we find ourselves in certain situations.

“The leadership of this country may be constrained to take certain decisions that in their wisdom will buoy up the economy, but that could be very painful for the masses. Even when they come up with palliatives, it is always too little and most of the time, they get to the wrong people. The masses are always at the receiving end of unfavourable government policies.

“Labour has threatened to go on strike. Well, labour is supposed to be on the side of the masses, but there is always the problem posed by corruption and betrayal. There is always that triangular relationship between organised labour and government and the masses’ expectations.

“If the Federal Government can thinker a bit and consider the effect of petroleum subsidy removal on the masses, it will consider withdrawing in phases and not everything at the same time. Otherwise, it will be like whipping the horse that has already fallen. The polite way should be considered except they want to kill Nigeria and Nigerians. Government should wear a human face.”

Although Etim sees Nigeria as a very resilient nation with a huge shock absorber and believes the country will survive any decision the government will make in 2022, he feels that the government should be honest, the citizens should be understanding, nothing should be unduly politicized and there should be no blame game, all should sit up and realise that 2022 may not be as bad as what prophets of doom are forecasting.

For Mfon King, an Akwa Ibom youth leader, 2022 may turn out to be a very rough year riddled with increase in taxes, petroleum subsidy removal and hikes in prices of petroleum products.

The fact that everything is Nigeria is tied to the price of crude oil, he pointed out, an increase in the pump price of petrol amounts to increase in prices of every other thing in the market and as such Nigerians should be ready for a very tough year.

“The irony of it all is that there is no increase in salaries or any source of revenue to the masses. Even the N5,000 the Federal Government said it will be paying to 40 million Nigerians, where is the data base? Who is going to handle it? Who is going to benefit from it? Nigerians should buckle up because 2022 is going to be a tough year,” he said.

According to him, there is nothing in place from the Federal or state governments to cushion the impending hardship for the masses. “Even if they kill a Nigerian worker, labour leaders will only bark and will not bite. They will be settled and will not react. They may go on strike for a month, but when they are called for settlement that will be the end. It is the masses that will suffer. Some states are still struggling to pay the minimum wage. Now you talk about increase in electric tariff, taxes and petroleum subsidy removal. It will be tough in 2022.”

Jane Aniedi, a retired school principal, also in Akwa Ibom, expressed disappointment at the news of the planned removal of petroleum subsidy, increment on electricity tariff and taxes.

“If it is this tough when such plans are yet to be implemented, then one can do nothing but to surrender to the will of God for Nigeria,” she said, adding that organised labour would always go on strike to protest bad government policies only to succumb when the heat is on.

She called on Nigerians to forget everything and turn to God in prayer in 2022.