Dear President Tinubu,
When you took office with promises of "renewed hope" for a better Nigeria, both citizens at home and abroad were optimistic. However, just a few months into your administration, that hope turned into chaos as the prices of goods and commodities skyrocketed. While you inherited a struggling economy, your policies have exacerbated the situation, leading many Nigerians to believe that your "renewed hope" slogan has delivered more hardship than hope.
Like many nations, Nigeria has faced economic shocks from global factors, but domestic issues, particularly those stemming from your reforms, have intensified the crisis. Nigeria is currently experiencing its worst economic downturn in a generation, resulting in widespread hardship and anger.
Inflation: Annual inflation is now close to 30%, the highest in nearly three decades, with food prices rising by 35%.
Wages: The monthly minimum wage, set at 30,000 naira since 2019, is now worth just $19 (£15) due to currency devaluation and inflation.
A comparison of first-year inflation rates under different administrations since 1999 highlights the severity of the current situation:
Obasanjo (1999): From May 1999 at 11.36% to April 2000 at -0.05%, a decrease of -0.95%
Yar'Adua (2007): From May 2007 at 4.64% to April 2008 at 8.17%, an increase of 7.66%
Goodluck (2011): From May 2011 at 12.35% to April 2012 at 12.87%, an increase of 11.85%
Buhari (2015): From May 2015 at 9.00% to April 2016 at 13.72%, an increase of 12.48%
Tinubu (2023): From May 2023 at 22.41% to April 2024 at 33.69%, an increase of 31.15%
On your inaugural day, you endorsed the removal of subsidies on petroleum products and merged exchange rates, worsening an already fragile economy. This decision followed a poorly executed currency reform by the previous administration, which had already caused significant hardship, including personal and business bankruptcies. Consequently, many Nigerians doubt your administration’s intentions and capability to improve their lives.
Your administration has also been marked by a troubling disregard for press freedom and human rights:
Silencing Dissent: The government has silenced dissenting voices and failed to protect journalists. Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo faced intimidation for uncovering corruption, while others like Segun Olatunji, Daniel Ojukwu, and Madu Onuorah were unlawfully detained under the Cyber Crimes Act.
Police Brutality: Over 4,000 people have been killed in the last 12 months, with 1,336 deaths in Plateau State alone in just three months. Peaceful protesters against high food costs in Niger and Kano states were arrested by the police.
Forced evictions without due process continue unabated, with violent evictions reported in Lagos. The southeast region suffers from frequent abductions, enforced disappearances, and attacks on security personnel.
Mass abductions, particularly targeting children, continue to disrupt education in rural areas. On May 24, over 160 people, mostly women and children, were abducted in Kuchi village, Niger State. Additionally, 287 children were abducted from their school in Kuriga town, Kaduna State. In another incident, bandits abducted over 300 schoolboys from a boarding school in Kankara, Katsina State. Furthermore, at least nine students were abducted by gunmen during a late-night raid on the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Kogi State.
The right to peaceful protest is continually
undermined, sometimes violently. In November, labour leaders in Imo State were severely beaten by security personnel and hired thugs, preventing them from peaceful assembly.
An offer by Nigeria’s industry regulator to fast-track approvals of sales by oil companies willing to accept responsibility for pollution could allow Shell to avoid accountability for environmental damage in the Niger Delta, exposing local communities to further human rights abuses.
Deadly attacks by gunmen have increased in rural communities across Niger, Katsina, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, and Zamfara. Airstrikes by the Nigerian army in Kaduna State killed over 100 people, a crime covered up with no justice for the victims.
Additionally, peaceful protests by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) supporters in Kaduna were met with deadly force, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
The economic crisis has significantly impacted Nigerian families, with many struggling to afford basic necessities. In 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) stated that around 25 million Nigerians were at risk of hunger, a significant increase from previous years. Interestingly, what was predicted then has occurred under your administration. This hunger crisis is driven by escalating food prices, conflict, and economic instability.
The cumulative effect of these issues is devastating. Families are forced to make difficult choices between essentials like food and education. The rising cost of living has pushed many into poverty, leading to increased crime rates and social unrest. Human rights abuses and suppression of dissent have eroded public trust in government institutions, while persistent insecurity hampers economic growth and development. The future under your leadership appears grim unless urgent and effective measures are taken to address these pressing challenges.
Sincerely,
Injustice Is Real
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