It was another offshore for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last week, almost like a continuation of his initial plan to slip away from all the noise around and take a few days off for a work stay in France. You will remember he had to abort his plans for things to do in France so he could swear in the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), in the person of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. It was certain he did not exhaust his programme for the work stay because the grapevine had suggested he would be staying about two weeks in France, but he barely stayed five days before jetting back home.
It did not come to me, or any other person who has been following the President’s activities all along, as a surprise when after his state visit and other engagements in the People’s Republic of China the upper week, he decided to quietly slip into his closet to continue with his strategic recess; this is supposed to be a time to take another look at Nigeria, reassess its situation, including its challenges and positive potentials, re-evaluation of moves and strategy, then decide if there will be a need for change of tactics. All leaders do it.
From last weekend till about last Tuesday/Wednesday, there was that curiosity, especially in the media, about the President’s whereabouts, it was just not overstretched. Then on Thursday when pictures and tweets started flying in the media, about a well publicised reception for him at the Buckingham Palace in London, where he and the British monarch, King Charles III, had deep discussions on issues of common national and regional interests, the anxiety kind of calmed.
Although I was not there, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who is in a better position to gain privileged insights into the reason for the meeting, offered tips from the discussions. According to him, in a statement he issued on Thursday, the conversation was dominated by a pressing global concern: climate change. The two leaders, both committed to finding solutions to this complex challenge, explored opportunities for collaboration and shared ideas on innovative approaches to climate financing and funding.
As the world prepares for the COP 29 Summit in Azerbaijan and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, this meeting was a significant step towards a united global front in combating climate change. Nigeria, under President Tinubu’s leadership, is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future, and this meeting with King Charles III marked a crucial moment in that journey. The discussion between the two leaders was built on a foundation of mutual respect and a shared commitment to addressing climate change. President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to addressing climate change in a manner that aligns with the country’s energy security objectives, while affirming Nigeria’s readiness to adopt global strategies for sustainability.
As the meeting drew to a close, it was clear that this was more than just a symbolic gesture. The exchange of ideas and the exploration of opportunities for collaboration marked the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against climate change. With Nigeria and the United Kingdom leading the charge, there is hope for a brighter, more sustainable future.
“Both leaders discussed global and regional matters of shared priority, focusing on the urgent and complex challenge of climate change. President Tinubu and His Majesty also explored opportunities for collaboration in anticipation of the upcoming COP 29 Summit in Azerbaijan and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
“President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to addressing climate change in a manner that aligns with the country’s energy security objectives whilst affirming Nigeria’s readiness to adopt global strategies for sustainability. During their dialogue, the two leaders shared ideas for innovative approaches to climate financing and funding, expressing mutual interest in strengthening partnerships by harnessing Nigeria’s leadership position in Africa and the Commonwealth”, Onanuga said in his statement.
The meeting was actually more significant for Nigerians back home, especially at a time when there is no region or state of the nation that is not adversely impacted in one way or the other by the rapidly changing climate. It becomes easier to describe or imagine in the last few days when the sights coming out of flood-ravaged states and communities comes to mind. Like the case of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State and the home of Vice President Kashim Shettima, where a whole city is either submerged or substantially soaked in flood water, leaving scores of deaths behind, more than 200,000 displaced and not less than a million citizens affected.
Borno is just one in the many cases of massive flooding across the country. As at July, not less than ten states has been impacted variously by floods with many more anticipated. Sometime in early July, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, during a press briefing in Abuja had hinted there would be floods and that not less than 31 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), would be the casualties. In fact, he said 148 council areas would be impacted across the 31 states that fell within the flood risk belt.
The picture becomes uglier when the likely vicissitudes, including outbreak of diseases, general displacements, food crisis, breakdown of law and order and other forms of life’s unpleasantness are considered. Like in the case of Maiduguri, some of these eventualities have stated manifesting. For instance, there was a warning by the United Nations (UN) that the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri are at risk of cholera and malnutrition. Then in another circumstance, the heavy flooding occasioned a breach at the Maiduguri correctional centre where more than 400 inmates escaped and are now unaccounted for.
The impacts of the floods, which seem to be extending further into other parts of the country, are yet to be calculable as it is not known yet how far they might still go. It is believed that they might worsen the current food crisis that governments at various levels have been struggling to tame. This is because though farmlands need water, with some other natural elements to bring bountiful yields they do not need excess of it, at lead not in floods. So far, figures out there say more than 107,000 hectares of farmlands have been destroyed by the floods. These are just about the floods, which have rather now become the annual experience in the last few years, there are other manifestations of the phenomenon known as climate change.
I also believe this last week was genuinely a very fulfilling one for President Tinubu, may be for many reasons, but particularly because he had another prove to show those doubting his rout to economic reformation. On Thursday, he reacted to the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) latest report on Nigeria’s trade balance. According to the NBS report, Nigeria recorded N6.95 trillion trade surplus in Quarter 2 of 2024, which is 6.60% higher than the N6.52 trillion surplus of Quarter 1
According to Onanuga, who capture the President’s reaction in a statement, the report highlights the country’s strong export performance, driven primarily by crude oil exports, which contributed N14.56 trillion or 74.98% of total exports. Non-crude oil exports also showed significant growth, valued at N4.86 trillion, comprising 25.02% of total export value. The dominance of European and American countries as Nigeria’s top export destinations is a testament to the country’s growing economic influence.
This latest report comes on the heels of a successful domestic bond issuance, which was oversubscribed by almost 100%, and a half-year revenue of N9.1 trillion. These indicators suggest a turning point in Nigeria’s economic fortunes, with President Tinubu’s reforms beginning to bear fruit. These positive swings will further reinforce the President’s resolve that his administration will remain committed to consolidating these gains and implementing further fiscal and tax policy reforms to unlock the country’s full potential.
“Generally, the economic indicators, which were very low when President Tinubu assumed office last year, are turning positive. The government will continue to consolidate on the gains of the reforms as more fiscal and tax policy reforms already embarked upon by the administration come to fruition. President Tinubu is determined to confront the inhibitions that have stunted the growth and development necessary to unlock the country’s full potential”, Onanuga said.
During the course of that week, President Tinubu was constantly in touch with home, giving proper guidance and instructions on what needed to be done in various areas. He celebrated those he knew had to be celebrated and mourned those who passed.
For instance, he did not miss the chance to stand in solidarity with the people of Niger State on Monday, over the unfortunate tanker fire explosion, which claimed many lives, just as he did not fail to instruct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to intervene in the Maiduguri flood. He later in the week approved N108 billion intervention for states to tackle flooding and erosion. He also mourned the death of the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, who died at 86 years.
He also celebrated the likes of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, who clocked 90 years; same thing for the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who clocked 72 years and commemorated 21st year on the throne. He also celebrated the Governor of Katsina State, Dr Kikko Umar Radda, who turned 55 years.
It is a new week, he is about to unleash a new energy, especially as he is coming from these few days of focused seclusion. Just watch out from this week.
