Opinion
Where Has Amaechi Failed?
As I was about to write
this piece , a discrete picture of Rivers State before the coming of the Chuibuike Amaechi-led administration beamed across my mind. As I looked, I saw a picture of primary education in a state of deterioration and decay; the health sector dilapidated with little or no operational apparatus. I saw a state with so much mineral and human resources going down the drain. There was little or no good road network, a near and total darkness (blackout) in almost all the communities of Rivers State, especially Port Harcourt metropolis. A staccato of traffic and lawlessness envisaged in abandoned projects here and there.
My dear Rivers men and women, people cry out when they feel pain over a wrong. I wish I could scream this failure of our dear governor. It is widespread, it is prevalent. The lame knows about it, the blind, deaf and dumb are all abreast with it. Yet, no one amongst the able and well to do has taken it upon themselves to scream. If we continue to fold our hands this failure of his will be lost to oblivion.
Governor Amaechi’s failure is that he wished well for the state of his birth. His wrong is that he is a man of impact-a man who sacrificed his time, energy and intellectual prowess for the good of the common Rivers man and woman. A man who should have received applause for his efforts and kind gestures, but what did he receive; war, destructive criticisms, secret and evil plots of subversion even from the people he has sacrificed so much for. Like Julius Cesar, he was accused of the crime and wrong of selfishness and arrogance.
My fellow Rivers men and women, it will be a concerted conspiracy and suicidal to withdraw our compliments and refrain from applauding office holders who have distinguished themselves in the cause of serving our dear state as Amaechi has done. If he were as some would say, why would he want the same measure of education enjoyed by the rich and affluent to be enjoyed by the poor and down trodden too, by revamping primary education? If he were selfish, why would he respond to our long cries and problems of power? It’s quite amazing that almost all the communities in Rivers State enjoy a near constant electricity supply. If Governor Amaechi were selfish, why would he invest so much money in the health sector.
There are health centres in almost all the communities in Rivers State to respond to the health needs of the people. There is good road network within and outside Port Harcourt metropolis. Almost all the villages in Rivers State have motorbale link roads good enough to convey and facilitate easy movement of people and goods. What more has he not done? He has restored the glory o f our state University. It was via his efforts that Rivers State University of Science and Technology came back to life… we can again beat our chest that we have a glorious state University.
My good people of Rivers State, I have not written this piece to campaign for our governor, but I have only expressed my personal opinion about the good works Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is doing in Rivers State. We should look away from sentiments and biased feelings and applaud our able governor… we must not kill his dreams, good intentions and aspirations for the Rivers people. In Amaechi, I have seen as a true democrat-a man who is desirous to bring home the dividends of democracy.
A system in which the common man will have the slightest and most excited moment to know that he, like the rich and affluent is counted as a worthy member of the society. He is many thing most of our elected office holders are not. When a man distinguishes himself, he sure will be ready to fight the battle of envy, jealousy and antagonism from every angle, especially from people who should have done the same thing who by reason of corruption and squandermania failed to do so.
Amaechi has won the hearts of many good and right thinking people of the society. The literary icon, Professor Wole Soyinka, was not ashamed to identify with his good intentions for the Rivers people. Amaechi has made our dear state proud; he has demonstrated the heart and will of democracy. He has shown by his act of tactfulness and diligence that change is possible if it is determined. Rivers State must not form ally with men and women who are development-antagonists, men and women who are determined to smear the image of the transparent government he is leading.
I encourage existing and anticipating leaders from our dear state to borrow a leaf from our dear governor so that we can together take the Nigerian society to the skies. Space will fail me to enumerate the fact that we must not allow any kind of feelings either the ones emanating from withinin us or instigated by our peers, spouses or respected friends-colleagues, and employers alike to destroy the stability and serene atmosphere regularised and occasioned by growth and development that cuts across every ministry, local authority and community of Rivers State.
We need to stablise the pace this administration has set. Let us endeavour to embrace peace, reconcile all parties concerned to make a headway. Rivers State is ours to build, protect and enjoy.
Solomon resides in Ahoada, Rivers State.
Chisa Solomon
From all indications, Nigeria possesses enough human and material resources to become a true economic powerhouse in Africa. According to the National Population Commission (NPC, 2023), the country’s population has grown steadily within the last decade, presently standing at about 220 million people—mostly young, vibrant, and innovative. Nigeria also remains the sixth-largest oil producer in the world, with enormous reserves of gas, fertile agricultural land, and human capital.
Yet, despite this enormous potential, the country continues to grapple with underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2023) show that about 129 million Nigerians currently live below the poverty line. Most families can no longer afford basic necessities, even as the government continues to project a rosy economic picture.
The Subsidy Question
The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been one of the most controversial policy decisions in Nigeria’s recent history. According to the president, subsidy removal was designed to reduce fiscal burden, unify the foreign exchange rate, attract investment, curb inflation, and discourage excessive government borrowing.
While these objectives are theoretically sound, the reality for ordinary Nigerians has been severe hardship. Fuel prices more than tripled, transportation costs surged, and food inflation—already high—rose above 30% (NBS, 2023). The World Bank (2023) estimates that an additional 7.1 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty after subsidy removal.
A Critical Economic View
As an economist, I argue that the problem was not subsidy removal itself—which was inevitable—but the timing, sequencing, and structural gaps in Nigeria’s implementation.
- Structural Miscalculation
Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries remain nonfunctional. By removing subsidies without local refining capacity, the government exposed the economy to import-price pass-through effects—where global oil price shocks translate directly into domestic inflation. This was not just a timing issue but a fundamental policy miscalculation.
- Neglect of Social Safety Nets
Countries like Indonesia (2005) and Ghana (2005) removed subsidies successfully only after introducing cash transfers, transport vouchers, and food subsidies for the poor (World Bank, 2005). Nigeria, however, implemented removal abruptly, shifting the fiscal burden directly onto households without protection.
- Failure to Secure Food and Energy Alternatives
Fuel subsidy removal amplified existing weaknesses in agriculture and energy. Instead of sequencing reforms, government left Nigerians without refinery capacity, renewable energy alternatives, or mechanized agricultural productivity—all of which could have cushioned the shock.
Political and Public Concerns
Prominent leaders have echoed these concerns. Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the subsidy removal as “good but wrongly timed.” Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party also faulted the government’s hasty approach. Human rights activists like Obodoekwe Stive stressed that refineries should have been made functional first, to reduce the suffering of citizens.
This is not just political rhetoric—it reflects a widespread economic reality. When inflation climbs above 30%, when purchasing power collapses, and when households cannot meet basic needs, the promise of reform becomes overshadowed by social pain.
Broader Implications
The consequences of this policy are multidimensional:
- Inflationary Pressures – Food inflation above 30% has made nutrition unaffordable for many households.
- Rising Poverty – 7.1 million Nigerians have been newly pushed into poverty (World Bank, 2023).
- Middle-Class Erosion – Rising transport, rent, and healthcare costs are squeezing household incomes.
- Debt Concerns – Despite promises, government borrowing has continued, raising sustainability questions.
- Public Distrust – When government promises savings but citizens feel only pain, trust in leadership erodes.
In effect, subsidy removal without structural readiness has widened inequality and eroded social stability.
Missed Opportunities
Nigeria’s leaders had the chance to approach subsidy removal differently:
- Refinery Rehabilitation – Ensuring local refining to reduce exposure to global oil price shocks.
- Renewable Energy Investment – Diversifying energy through solar, hydro, and wind to reduce reliance on imported petroleum.
- Agricultural Productivity – Mechanization, irrigation, and smallholder financing could have boosted food supply and stabilized prices.
- Social Safety Nets – Conditional cash transfers, food vouchers, and transport subsidies could have protected the most vulnerable.
Instead, reform came abruptly, leaving citizens to absorb all the pain while waiting for theoretical long-term benefits.
Conclusion: Reform With a Human Face
Fuel subsidy removal was inevitable, but Nigeria’s approach has worsened hardship for millions. True reform must go beyond fiscal savings to protect citizens.
Economic policy is not judged only by its efficiency but by its humanity. A well-sequenced reform could have balanced fiscal responsibility with equity, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians were not crushed under the weight of sudden change.
Nigeria has the resources, population, and resilience to lead Africa’s economy. But leadership requires foresight. It requires policies that are inclusive, humane, and strategically sequenced.
Reform without equity is displacement of poverty, not development. If Nigeria truly seeks progress, its policies must wear a human face.
References
- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2023). Poverty and Inequality Report. Abuja.
- National Population Commission (NPC). (2023). Population Estimates. Abuja.
- World Bank. (2023). Nigeria Development Update. Washington, DC.
- World Bank. (2005). Fuel Subsidy Reforms: Lessons from Indonesia and Ghana. Washington, DC.
- OPEC. (2023). Annual Statistical Bulletin. Vienna.
By: Amarachi Amaugo