Since 1999 when Nige
ria returned to democratic path, not much has been recorded in terms of democratic dividends. That was probably the reason the electorate believed that somebody had to take the political burden of making change in Nigeria.
General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) pushed himself forward for the necessary change, with the promise to clearing the path for Nigeria to join the league of countries which can boast of the best economic climate in the world.But since the present government came into power, we have not seen the change promised us by President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC).
The cost of living is going beyond the reach of an average Nigerian, while electricity supply has been epileptic even in the face of high tariff. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has not developed any economic policy different from the one left by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that ruled for sixteen years of abject poverty.
The price of oil which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy has dropped sharply on the international market, while the four refineries which are obsolete with corrupt officials are still producing below capacity.
The government is obviously aware of these problems; but the solutions to most of them lie in long term infrastructural changes, the privatisation of the oil refineries, and high investment in agriculture which will ease the poverty being experienced.
For example, when Nigeria became independence in 1960, its GDP stood at N2493.4m with a contribution of 64% from agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors to the economy.
It is significant to note that  agriculture recorded tremendous self-sustaining growth and expansion before  crude-oil called black gold became main foreign exchange earner. Revenue from agriculture was appropriately used at regional levels to build landmark social and economic infrastructure and for provision of basic services like education, health, water and electricity supply.
Institutions like University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Cocoa House, and Nigerian Broadcasting and Television Services in the Western Region; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in the North; University of Nigeria Nsukka, in the Esatern Nigeria were not built with foreign loans, but proceeds from cocoa, groundnut , cotton, rubber and palm oil.
The situation changed immediately we discovered oil in Bayelsa State.The government forgot agriculture.
Strategically, trade is the power house of growth. It creates employment, improves trade balances, lower the prices of goods and generates sources of income through tariffs and tax revenues for the government and the people.
The essence of my argument is that we need to re-evaluate our developmental strategies, so that it will ensure political stability in the long run if our economy is not based on crude oil only.
It is on record that in Nigeria, our common enemies are corruption and insecurity. These challenges are the biggest threat to the nationhood.
One must acknowledge President Buhari’s sincerity in trying to clean the Augean Stable left by previous governments. Unfortunately, most of the people around Buhari are wasting his good intention, because they are stakeholders in the previous administrations.
The truth is that the APC has failed to meet the bench marks of good governance and the growth of Nigeria’s struggling economy. Buhari’s constant travelling to solicit for foreign investors and assistance has not yielded any dividends to the ailing economy.
As nothing can be achieved in a state of anarchy, the prevailing state of insecurity in the country is such that if it continues, no meaningful development can be achieved in the country.  Worst, communities which hitherto shared good and conducive neighborliness are now at war with one another due to disputes over land.
The recent persistent attack on communities, killing, kidnapping of indigenous people by Fulani herdsmen, etc have hugely created  an atmosphere of insecurity to lives and property. A circumstance of this nature cannot give rise to social and economic growth of the nation.
It pains me how a country that calls itself a giant of Africa with more than enough mineral resources and fertile land brings hardship and abject poverty to the majority of its citizens.
It is time for a new thinking and a new economic order that must lift us from the cycle of poverty and inequality. We need to fight poverty with new socio-economic approach by investing in agriculture and promotion of new trade.
Since the country’s economy has taken a different turn, I urge Nigerians to join hand with the present administration to make agriculture the number one priority in its development efforts. The aim is to eliminate the present large food deficit by increasing production and thus improving the nutritional levels of all Nigerians.
The government needs to raise rural income and also  provide a base for the country’s industrial growth by stepping up production of agricultural raw materials to meet Nigeria’s need and to have surplus for export with renewed  vigour to build a country which is united , strong, viable and free, so that generation of Nigerians will live a much better life.
Karibo-Nelson writes from Port Harcourt.

Jinbobaraye Karibo-Nelson