By Ibrahim Mustapha
SIR: In 2022, Nigerians witnessed the good and the bad sides. It started with the torrential downpours which led to flooding that submerged many states across the country. Worst hit were Jigawa, Bayelsa, Yobe and Anambra states. But, many environmental analysts blamed the affected states for not heeding the early warning signals by metrological agencies. The flood which caused great damages to lives and properties has raised questions about the proper utilization of ecological funds by states governors and lack of effective policies to stem the menace of flooding in the country.
This year, unless government at all levels comes up with robust and effective strategies to control flooding, many more states will still be affected.
Last year, there were incessant attacks on INEC offices and its facilities across the country. INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disturbed by the sad developments, has expressed fears that the continuing attacks may pose a great threat to the conduct of this year election just as President Muhammadu Buhari, in his new year message warned saboteurs hell bent on scuttling the forthcoming polls to stay away.
The expectation is that the government would match its words with actions. To checkmate the ungodly activities of rapacious arsonists, the government should deploy adequate security measures to protect INEC offices and its facilities across the country. The Department of State security (DSS), should launch an investigation to unravel those behind them. The arrest and prosecution of these sponsors would serve as a lesson to other would-be sponsors and restore peace and security in the country.
While insecurity did not start last year, there was a spike in banditry and other sundry crimes. Nigerians will not forget in hurry the attacks on the Kaduna-Abuja’s bound train. In the unfortunate attack, many passengers were killed and scores of others kidnapped. For the people of Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and some communities in Kaduna State, 2022 was a bad year. Bandits had a field day, abducting and killing many helpless people. The bandits turned to a parallel authority, imposing levies on farmers before they could harvest their farm crops. Similarly, in the Southeast, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), through its armed-wing, Eastern Security Network waged an unrelenting war against the people of the region. Their enforced sit at home order caused serious setback to the economy of the region.
Year 2023 will witness a carryover of some monetary policies initiated by the apex bank (CBN), aimed at taming the high rate of inflation in the country. The crude oil theft which cost the country trillions of naira in revenue loss is another potential nightmare. And so also is the multi-dimensional poverty index which places 133 million Nigerians below the poverty line. With the elections around the corner, Nigerians have great opportunity to assess the candidates and their party manifestos against these multi-faceted problems facing the country.