Good Bye 2020: A Year With Great Turmoil
By Abba Dukawa
AREWA AGENDA – As the peoples and the nation enter new year 2021 with mix anticipation on what the year will look like to more than 100 million Nigeria,population that were classified as poor citizens.
Absolutely last year was one of most hardest years to millions of Nigerians. Whatever maybe Nigerians still hoping for Allah’s blessing in spite of losing much confidence on those governing us.
Like rest of countries across the globe, year 2020 was the most challenge years for Nigerians because of the Inflation, Economic aspect and Security this sectors witness serious turmoil like the rest of the sector remains the same.
2020 Nation’s Economy: Nigeria’s debt has doubled Two months before the administration took office on 29 May – the country owed a total of N12 trillion. At the end of June 2015, the country debt had risen slightly to N12.1 trillion.Now it has reach to scary situation where total debt stock stood at some humongous rose to N31. 009 trillion ($85.897 billion) as of June 30, 2020.
Almost every day Concerns Nigerians and Economists experts express worries over the country rising debt profile. Nigeria already condemned perpetually with the twin problem of heavy budget deficits and weak balance of payments position. In the 2021 Budget Over N3.3trn will go to Debt Servicing. It is time for economy diversification in the country because there is no state in Nigeria without untapped different mineral resources. Notwithstanding this huge opportunities in the nation untapped mineral resources.
Nigeria Dependent on oil for 70% of government revenues, fluctuating prices leave the country vulnerable. Following the collapse of crude oil prices from 2014 to date triggered unpleasant memories to Nigerian government which found itself in unchartered waters. Since than It continues to struggle to revive the economy amidst dwindling oil revenues compounded by unemployment, poverty and insecurity and the country remains weak and fragile -being outstripped by population growth.
With Covid 19 pandemic in the first quarter of the last year, exposed administration lack economic transformation strategy leading the country bearing serious economic turmoil with first recession and now in the second the recession which is expected to be the worst since the 1980s. This lack economic transformation strategy aggravate the extreme poverty level in the country which already stood as the highest in the world. IMF projects Nigeria economy growth will remain weak at an annual average of about 1.9% from 2019 to 2023.
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On Inflation: National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose by 12.82% (year-on-year) the highest rate recorded in 27 months since March 2018. The situation has worsen Nigeria’s poverty rate. In a country where N30,000 is a minimum wage this rate of inflation left lucky one with fixed income with less purchasing power and their ability to afford the same quantity of goods and services has reduced significantly
Security challenge; remain most scary year because of the level of insecurity reaching unpleasant stage due to the rising tide of insecurity across northern Nigeria and other states of the federation and the most challenging times after the countey’s bitter experience of the three-year civil war.
People in the northern part of the country are completely at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages at will, wreaking havoc. I am strongly believer that the government and the citizens should evolve strategies in tackling the menace. It behoves on every Nigerian to rise to the occasion to support the security agencies toward securing Nigeria.
There has never been a time when millions of Nigerians are losing faith in the ability of those in governance to make a great impact to hope our better tomorrow than now. The people’s faith keeps fading on a daily basis in the country.
No one will believed if someone walked up to Buharists before 2015 and said Nigerians under the present administration would experience such desperate situation we are now in, people would consider that person a mentally ill, and unapologetic Buharists would promptly give him a verbal roasting if not physical attack.
Five years down the line no Nigerian expected negative things to happen under PMB’s stewardship. The electorates never thought Baba would head a government bedeviled with boggling poor economic policies, poverty and insecurity challenges with endless things which are discrediting administration’s goodwill and the nation at large.
Nigerians want to see an improved security, Economic situation in the country. The economy is sinking deep and the unemployment rate is higher than ever before. The government should take proactive steps to reverse the situation. The government should do everything possible to to redeem itself. Truly, 2020 has been a challenges year occasioned by COVID19, Inflation, insecurity and poor economic. Really things have gone so wrong and so bad.
Even Buhari’s fear factor has gone. corrupt and criminal ones in the society have a free day. Everyone does as wishes. Government has a lot of work to do in 2021 to redeem itself. May we have a prosperous year freeing from any misfortune.
May Allah, protect our country from harm, eradicate any source that may disrupt our peacefulness, aid our rulers to maintain our country’s economic and progress and forgive us for all our wrongdoings and accept our good deeds. Bless our nation again.
Dukawa write in from Kano can be reached at ([email protected])
Arewa Agenda is a Publication of Young writers/journalist from Northern Nigeria towards Peaceful Coexistence and National Development through positive narratives
