By Blessing Agunloye
As of today, Nigeria is faced with so many challenges from insecurity to bad leadership to kidnapping, and even naira devaluation. In almost every part of the country, the insurgency is now the order of the day as most citizens are faced with violence and crime. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is a large economy with the most notable democracy that has become weakened over the years.
There is a persistent rise in insecurity and violent conflicts, naira devaluation, bad leadership among others and these have threatened the progress made in its democratic development. The issues driving the country's multiple conflicts include the Fulani-herdsmen crisis, violence, banditry, Boko Haram insurgency, tribal disagreements, etc. When we take a good look at Nigeria, we will discover that conflict has been a major challenge, there have been instances of inter and intra-conflict in Nigeria, it is quite evident that this has greatly affected the nation. Another factor regarding conflict is the religious factor, this has been said to be in the sense of religious conflict. There have been conflicts, disagreements, crises among adherents of opposing religious views. The rhythm on the lips of every citizen is "Insecurity of their lives and properties, corruption and terrorism." The insecurity in the nation is growing day by day, the havoc of being wrecked by rebellious individuals is deadly, everywhere in Nigeria.
About 85% of Nigerians live in extreme poverty making the country the world's capital of poverty of this figure, the larger population of being youth and children. These age groups are linked to terrorism and they serve as the major labor force and agents of uproar. The rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria is on the rise on daily basis, and Nigeria could be said to be one of the countries currently operating in a bad economy. According to the DAAR Communications Chairman, in the person of Dokpesi, he said that Nigeria's growth would be realized only if insecurity is properly addressed and Nigerians are united. He also added that Nigeria leaders could create new opportunities, create jobs and transform society.
Furthermore, the Naira devaluation due to inflation has largely affected economic activities in Nigeria. It is such a tragedy that the inflation of price in Nigeria has led to a drastic reduction in the quality and quantity of those products. In other words, price inflation of products in Nigeria refers to the reduction of quality in Nigeria, the economy is not stable. Currently, prices of essential food and commodities are on the high side. A bag of rice produced in Nigeria is sold for #25,000, while garri which is also a very important commodity is no longer affordable to poor people. Our Naira continues to fall to the global currencies and this has also affected the exchange rates in the global market, a British pound Sterling is currently worth 700 Naira at the moment, while a dollar is put at 578 nairas and a euro is currently 656 naira at the official rate. All these signals a drastic value of our beloved currency, Naira.
Leadership plays a major role in the actualization of democratic development in Nigeria. It is quite unfortunate that the leaders hardly work under the oath of their office. Bad leadership has become the order of the day, in the sense that the leaders are not doing anything in promoting the national development, the resources are not efficiently managed. There is no good governance because they are not unified in what they do. Leadership in Nigeria can only be great if only they are ready to promote peace in the nation. Bad leadership is rampant and has played out well in Nigeria. Nigerian leaders are not living following the payment of democratic governance. Democratic governance only operates in the books, because the reverse is the practice case. The leaders are characterized by diversion of public funds into their account, they don't put the welfare of their citizens first, they are so corrupted. Over the years, bad leadership has been a challenge to sustainable development in Nigeria.
Moreover, the inadequacy of Nigerian leaders to provide adequate protection for their citizens has contributed to the surge in the Nigerian crises. For instance, when funds are being released for ammunition, there are cases where these funds are being directed to their private account and this doesn't portray good leadership. The middle class could hardly survive the harsh economic crisis, while the lower class are languishing in poverty. From the present situation in the country, if the leaders fail to save the economy from collapsing, it might remain the same.
It is with sincerity that I hope for a better 2022. If the leaders of the country can come together using innovations and investments, the Nigerian economy can harness digital data and technologies that can connect Nigerian products and human capacity to international marketers to expand the digital world. With this, the country can experience a world of great transformation and is driven by innovations that will drive the nation.
While this is not just the work of the leaders, it also involves you and me. Let's all come together in unity with ideas to move the nation forward because of national development with every citizen in the nation. Government and leadership are about the people and we are the people, it is left everyone in the country to play a role in nation-building.
The major challenges being faced by Nigerians can be solved if only the leaders will take the right steps and work under the oath of their office. The public funds should be used for their purpose. Nigeria will be a greater place, why don't we join our hands together to make this work.
2022 can be great if only there can be restructuring and re-strategization. 2022 can be a great year for Nigeria if we all put our hands together to create a better Nigeria.
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