Even though I am not in Nigeria but I am well aware of all the hardships and pains millions of Nigerians are subject to on daily basis. I know that when it comes to the pocket of an average Nigerian, there is yet to be any drastic change in their financial and economic wellbeing. On the surface it is as if the promised change is delayed in coming, yet this is only on the surface. In the real sense the change, the long awaited change, is already here. Please consider the following facts:
- In the beginning of the year 2015, about 30 local government areas in at least 4 states of the federation were under the total control of Boko Haram insurgents. Today, even though the insurgents still stage suicide bombs occasionally, but the fact is that there is not a single local government that is now under the total control of Boko Haram insurgency.
Friends this happened under one year of this administration. It is a resounding victory that needs to be blown from the mountain top. Unfortunately, because we still have casualties coming from suicide bombs, we to tend overlook the obvious victory that our gallant soldiers have accomplished for the nation.
Yes, this we owe to the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and his political party. Let us express gratitude for the little progress we are making. We as a nation must not down play this significant progress.
- Nigeria for the first time has been able to launch the largest budget in our nation’s history (6.08 trillion naira). Unfortunately, not too many of our people see the major progress and significance of this land mark budget. Even at the point when the Nigerian crude oil was selling for over 100 USD a barrel as of 2014 for example the price was 112 USD per barrel. Yet we could not have such a budget, despite the record amount of barrels we were producing daily which was over 2 million barrels. So you wonder where the money went that time that it could not be reflected in the budget of the Federal Republic.
The miracle of this budget however is that now that the oil is only selling for about 38 USD per barrel which is just one third of the amount it was two years ago, the conventional logic tells us that our budget should be about three times lower. The more reason why Nigerians should be highly excited for this new government.
This year’s budget alone tells us the following:
- The government is not planning for some of the oil revenue to disappear and be unaccounted for like in the past.
- It means the leakages are being blocked in the national economy.
- This budget means this government are bent on recovering the 300% down fall of our economy.
- More so, the government has not only stopped on the level of last year’s budget, but they have actually decided to increase it.
- That tells us that the government have managed to find ways to create other avenues of income apart from oil. E.G. Solid minerals, agriculture, etc.
- The budget for the first time in the history of our country allocates 30% to capital expenditure. Before now, most of our income goes mainly for paying salaries not building infrastructure like roads, electricity, etc.
- All though this year’s budget, one recurrent word that could be read in between the lines is the word, job creation. This budget is clearly geared at reducing poverty and creating jobs for able bodied Nigerians.
These and many other reasons should be enough cause for faith, hope and excitement to my fellow Nigerians in the coming year.
As a trained journalist myself, I am so sad to see that our media and television stations are not focusing on this valuable improvements in our national life. Our journalists seem to be more concerned about pursing sensational news that could bring instant followership or readership. I think what Nigerians need right now is journalism of hope and faith. We need to help our people build faith for a better future, build faith in themselves and build faith in their new leadership.
Despite all the things that have not been done by this government of their promises, let us rather focus on what they have done in the short time they have had. Let us build out faith on this little beginning so that the seed of our faith will result in the harvest of abundant change in the year 2016.
As with the case of David, what helped him confront his Goliath was the faith and conviction he had in his modest victories over the bear and the lion. Let us look for the modest victory of this new government and hang our faith and trust in it, that upon this modest successes, we shall experience greater victories in the New Year.
WISHING MY FELLOW NIGERIANS A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2016!!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CHURCH AND NATION
By Pastor Sunday Adelaja
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