By Isah Aliyu Chiroma
This space has served as a forum to fight for and inform the public about the time period we are in for the past few weeks. It was time to select our leaders in this time of transition, in an election that mattered to us, and who are capable and eager to build a better future for us. The election provided that medium, and as a result, the electorates became deeply involved, and they turned out in large numbers to cast their votes. The election is over, and the victors have already accepted their certificates of return. But let’s not forget that elections always bring about a lot of shocks, some of which appeal to the victorious while disappointing to the losers. I want to talk about something that is very crucial, which is the post-election era. Elections are over, so what next?
We wake each day with the full knowledge that our path is far from over. We tread a challenging landscape on this seemingly endless journey, but the train won’t stop until it reaches its destination. Nation-building is an ongoing task which takes time, commitment, and hard work. Since General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the head of state, created the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1999 and handed over power to a democratic elected government, Nigeria has been governed by different leaders.
As Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said,” A nation’s development, however does not happen overnight or by accident. Nor does the development of a nation ever stop once the process has begun.” This new direction our country is heading in is therefore a stage of growth, a stage of an intellectual revolution, and a shift that will endure in our development road map. The nation’s development must stay a priority for the new administration. We think that everyone in our community has a responsibility and a part to play. In order to collaborate and create the country of our dreams, our elected officials can’t do it on their own; they need our help.
From the perspective of the citizens, they have already begun to perform their roles by choosing leaders they believe are capable of handling the job. On the government side, it is their responsibility to move quickly and make decisions that, at times, may not be ideal, but the final result should be our main focus. Economic development, improvements in health, security, and education are all necessary for an improved future to be accessible to all. This will make it possible to create the environment that will help us realize our goal for a better future.
Our economy has been steady for the past ten years; in 2021, it was $440.83 billion, up 2% from the previous year. And in 2020 was $432.20 billion, a 3.5% decrease from 2019, while 2019 was $448.12 billion, a 6.26% increase from 2018, and 2018 was $421.74 billion, a 12.24% increase from 2017. These numbers demonstrate how our GDP has been steady over time. Nigeria as a nation has a variety of ways to generate revenue, but sadly, we are heavily dependent on one, namely crude oil. While relying on one source is not necessarily harmful, we should also investigate other sources. The new administration needs to consider a few crucial places where money will be made and used to finance our development agenda. We shouldn’t continue to finance our initiatives by taking on debt. Each of the Nigerian economy’s three main sectors—the primary sector, which includes agriculture, the secondary sector, which includes manufacturing, and the tertiary sector, which includes services—plays a significant role in the growth and development of the nation’s economy.
When considering development’s long-term significance, education is the cornerstone of that process. In order to compete in the race of imagination and creativity, we must eradicate illiteracy from our culture. In addition to providing the populace with knowledge, investing in this industry will help to mold and shape their thinking so that they are prepared for the future. Nigeria’s education expenditure in 2021 was 5.14%, up 0.01% from 2020 and down 0.72% from 2019, while in 2020 it was 5.13% and in 2019 it was 5.86%, down 0.09% from 2018, and in 2017 it was 5.94%, down 0.18%. These numbers over time remain below the 26% of the UNESCO standard for education in every nation. This sector needs to receive a lot of attention in order to create men and women who are capable of thinking, acting, and competing in the future race of ideas, technology, creativity, and imagination.
Health, as they say, is wealth. Our health sector requires significant investment in the form of infrastructure, contemporary technology, and human resources. It is very unfortunate that our talented medical professionals leave our country in search of better chances abroad. However, they are currently at a standstill and must take that action. They may be ready to return and serve their country and participate in its development if this sector is given careful consideration and investment. The health sector has the highest allocation in the 2023 budget that president Muhammadu Buhari has given, receiving 5.75% of the total budget. Even with this growth, we are still required to maintain a safe environment and make preparations for disease in the future, just like Lasa fever, Covid 19 and other pandemic.
The area that requires the most attention has always been national security; I say most because no development can take place in a community that lacks both security and peace. If there is no security in the society, no matter how much progress takes place; it will be disrupted, and we will be back where we started, with nothing. Protecting people’s lives and property will allow them to move around freely and conduct out their activities, which will eventually help them contribute to the nation. From the north to the east and south of the nation, there is now widespread insecurity. The Northwest and some areas of North Central have seen an increase in criminal activity, which has put thousands of people in danger, making them Internally Displace Persons (IDP). While mass kidnappings in schools and neighborhoods have been occurring across the nation, the Southeast is currently dealing with unidentified gunmen. The need for this is imperative because if security is compromised, everything else—including the infrastructure, economy, and society—will be a mirage.
I think we need to get going at the speed of light, proceed carefully, and not make mistakes. Speed is required because our nation needs to move ahead as quickly as possible in order to compete at the highest level. This period of history is crucial to us because it will help to mold the future, which many of us will be a part of. We can create the future we want, one that is full of optimism and readiness for the challenges ahead. As I always say, it’s a contest for which we must be prepared; if we aren’t, it will catch us off guard when we only realize after a protracted nap that blurb our vision and shatter our dreams.
