By Onibiyo Dayo
Looking at the nation Nigeria and how things stands. Its difficult to understand this President, coming from removal of oil subsidy to insecurity and the tax here and there, one simple may not get the grasp of this no doubt, except he or she is reminded of some days of long queues at the fuel station, the many deaths resulting from access to same fuel as alternative to power failures, the one from high degree of burns sustained in keeping or hoarding the fuel in the name of selling at crazily exorbitant prices when you do see one, the two (2) academic years straight-loss from protracted academic and non academic strikes in the Polytechnics, Universities and Colleges of Education, or the irregular normal school calendars that has even affected Secondary schools, or numberless Labour strikes, the dollarized market for the few feeding fat therefore, costing failed international schools fees payments, killing business transactions and investments just to mention but a few.
I remember some years back, when His Excellency President Tinubu, was the Governor of Lagos State. When he was called OJUYOBO , this is not a pleasant name in anyways, its a name that seeks to demean, insult and condemn a person, of course this was when even Lagosians don’t understand what he was doing with Lagos. This was when he was setting the agenda for today’s Lagos, also interpreted by the likes of His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola, His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode and now His Excellency Governor Sanwo Olu. You may need to know, that this does not and will not exclude the incoming Governor.
The real Lagos owners, never liked BAT then, no, not all, to them, he was taken them through what they called PAIN, yes pain in the sense that, it was not seen as today’s GAIN, where Lagos State is now (2026) generating nothing less than N179 billion monthly as IGR. Oh, but now Lagosians can laugh at the funds as they trickle in and are being used to develop 2nd Nigeria, like the saying goes, Nigeria and Lagos…
In 2024 for instance, Nigeria’s total IGR was ₦3.7 trillion with Lagos State contributing ₦1.3 trillion, accounting for over 35% of the national IGR, while Rivers State rolled in ₦317.3 billion and the FCT, Abuja ₦282.4 billion ranking second and third, respectively.
The Lagos land water side sand filling then at Victoria Island end now rakes in billions and investments and embassies are now struggling to build there, paying heavily to get a space overlooking the sea to the credit of Lagos and Nigeria at large.
May I state this very clearly that, am one of those who opposed the increase in PMS and not the removal of the SUBSIDY, I believe, removing the subsidy should never have increased fuel prices, because the subsidy was first and foremost a FRAUD, but looking at it today, going by what comes to the states, which are in GEOMETRIC forms and if some of these States manages these funds properly, it had touched on the masses.
This is an area, i will like to join in calling on omo olodo ide to go deeper with the States and ensure these funds are properly utilized, hence his strategic effort would be hurriedly wasted before long.
For Security, am happy the State Police issue is now rolling to BAT’S table for ascent, this honestly is the only way Commissioners of Police won’t need to wait for directives from Zonal Commands or Louis Edet to take action, this is how the other Security Agencies will now be responsible to the State Governors who are for now, mere paper Chief Security Officers, more like paper tigers, who can’t even bark talk of biting. Of course it will be time to use the Security Votes rather than “eat it”
Yes, this issue of Security is so worrisome that, I will not excuse any Government, not even PBAT, but will applaud this new direction on State Police and International corporations and let us see where the Governors will now pass the bulk to!
However, before then, have we asked ourselves, how Nigerians, fellow country men and women are now actively involved in these insecurities, so much that community heads, chiefs, clerics, women and house helps are nothing but accomplices, meaning, it has eating deep into our fabrics and we all need self purging to ensure the fight is total, yes, not yet Uhuru but not time for pointing fingers.
I will be pleading with Nigerians, to give it to this President as he is doing it and ready to improve on where ever we are now, having shown tenacity to move us out of these Economic doldrums which in the last three (3) years and a few month of his administration has prevented us from sliding into another Economic recession, which was the hallmark of the day before now.
This level of stability was due to his administration’s major macroeconomic reforms ( let me not bore you with these registers )—such as the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of the foreign exchange market— all which initially caused severe inflation and hardship.
Now, the economy has continued to record positive GDP growth Economic data and official statements detail the current state of affairs: GDP Growth which puts Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves now at approximately $51.29 billion, a fit not attained in the last 17 years. These are no longer news, as they liter International pages and are beginning to reflect on the nation.
It is also important to let the Government of President Tinubu GCFR know that, it must clamp down on some issues like house rents, building materials, school fees and transportation that directly touch on the common man, as the middle men here, arbitrarily increases these fares all in the name of things have increased, 90% of which the prices they charge or fix, does not translate or commensurate with the economic real-time situation in the market and in their areas.
I will take for instance, in some States where so called self-appointed house agents will be charging N120,000 on a rent of N500,000 as Agency fee (sic) almost 30% of the rent, telling you total package is N620,000, a house that in the first instance, is not even suppose to be N400,000, in most cases they advice and mislead building owners on what to charge, claiming to be the “practitioners”. So do you recoup the money you spent building a house in a year? even in five years? the answer is NO, even old buildings now charge exorbitant rates, safe for the God fearing and human face landlords who wont let these miscreants lead them astray.
What of the case of school owners who charge all manners of fees and still pay there teachers very ridiculously?, these needs to be checked, same goes for needless transport fare hikes by drivers and so called unions, the amount you take a vehicle in the morning is not what you will pay when returning, leaving one to wonder if the length of the road has been increased or its width reduced!
If these things that appears little are properly regulated then, the policies of Government will reflect more positively and help translate these economic data and gains clearly to the ordinary man’s understanding.
Again, I reiterate my call on all Nigerian voters, to let PBAT complete his tenure by taking the 2nd term and safely land on these landmark progressive indices for the good of all.
– ONIBIYO Dayo is the National Secretary of Concerned Creatives Artistes and Entertainers Initiative 4 Tinubu.
