WED, MAY 29 2019-theG&BJournal-President Muhammadu Buhari has been sworn in for a second term in office but left out the usual inauguration speech, a move irreverent commentators described as ill-advised. The event which was well attended took place at the Eagle Square Abuja amidst tight security.
The smooth inauguration process provided another shot of confidence for the nation of almost 200 million and a fillip for democracy across Africa.
Earlier this year, President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) crossed another electoral milestone when he emphatically beat the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar in a very keenly contested general election.
The 77 year old Buhari, a former military ruler now faces a fresh 4-year fight for the future of the nation amidst jibes on his fight against corruption, his response to the numerous security challenges the nation face, the fiscal crisis that Nigeria-Africa’s largest economy- is facing and his apparent lack of urgency which greatly unsettled investors in the past four years of his government.
TheG&BJournal gauged the pulse of some Nigerian’s leading to this inauguration day and found a raft of unsettled Nigerians who wished Buhari empties his over-flowing in-tray as quickly as possible beginning with some vital reforms including the reform of the energy sector.
About 80 percent of Nigerians theG&BJournal polled say the reform of the energy sector including the sale of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is even more urgent now. A handful wants to see some urgent move against the violence that plagues the nation today, particularly in north-western Nigeria.
According to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the recent spike in violence in north-western parts of Nigeria has forced an estimated 20,000 people to seek safety and security in Niger since April.
‘’People are reportedly fleeing due to multiple reasons, including clashes between farmers and herders of different ethnic groups, vigilantism, as well as kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria’s Sokoto and Zamfara States,’’ the UNHCR said yesterday while expressing deep concerns about the existential problems in the north.
Besides, Nigerians want a speed-up in job creation especially through creating an enabling environment for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive.
According to a recent NOIPolls survey employment remains among the top three areas Nigerians expected the government to focus its attention on.
‘’Job creation challenge in Nigeria can be effectively tackled through a strict adherence to and execution of the different strategies and policy framework that have been put in place to move the employment drive in the country forward,’’ the polling firm said.
Investors, meanwhile, will be anxious to know how the new government plans to create more revenue sources to move the economy forward while many pray the President doesn’t have to wait another six months to submit his list of ministers for vetting by the National Assembly and assign them posts.
twitter:@theGBJournal|email: info@govandbusinessjournal.com.ng|
