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Nigeria's Victories, Challenges and Novelties of 2015
The year 2015 was very remarkable for Nigeria. It was the year the country witnessed a peaceful transition from one civilian government to another; the year Buhari made history as the first opposition candidate in Africa to defeat an incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, in a presidential election. The election was more remarkable when President Goodluck Jonathan honorably conceded and accepted the result.
The introduction of Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) in the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was so successful at ensuring free and fair voting that the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, stated during a meeting with journalists at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja on March 29, that the US might have something to learn from the technology which he said is better than the method the country currently uses.
The post-election period continued the historic trajectory when President Buhari took six months before inaugurating his federal cabinet after mounting concerns on his slow pace. The 36 ministers were sworn in on November 11. In the meantime Buhari had started the reorganization of NNPC and putting steps in place to stem the persistent crisis in the petroleum industry. How those plans succeed will be seen this year.
At the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki successfully schemed his way through to become the senate president, out maneuvering his political party APC and their choice for the job, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan. Then Saraki faces trial for false declaration of assets. Cases are still pending.
Other major events in Nigeria for the year include:
· Intensified pressure on Boko Haram by government troops which is resulting in recovery of territory held by the terror group. However, recovery of the close to 300 Chibok girls held by the group has remained a dream. The group has also resorted to suicide attacks and planting explosive devices.
· Financial crimes investigations reveal mind boggling figures in billions of naira stolen from public funds. Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, is indicted and facing trial for misappropriation of funds meant for arms to fight Boko Haram. Also a number of media outlets and owners are caught in the web of corruption as beneficiaries of willful disbursement of public funds for partisan purposes.
· The anti-corruption war of the Buhari administration is criticized as selective investigation targeting the opposition and calls mount for the investigation to be extended to ex-President Obasanjo's regime and beyond.
· Nigerian courts and election tribunals nullify some high profile elections; former senate president David Mark loses a challenge to his election by APC candidate in a Markurdi Court of Appeal ruling. A rerun is ordered within 90 days. Also, Anambra Senator Uche Ekwunife suffered similar nullification in the Court of Appeals, Enugu. A dramatic turn is also witnessed in Rivers State where Governor Wike's election was twice nullified by an Election tribunal and the court of appeal. Senator Sekibo, also of the people's Democratic Party loses his appeal to remain the elected senator from Rivers East. Similar fate befalls the governor of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom and Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. Buruji Kashamu, wanted on drug charges in United States also loses his senatorial seat as his election is nullified following an APC candidate's challenge in Ogun State.
· Nigeria's largest mobile phone company, MTN is fined $5.2 billion by the Communications Commission for not complying with sim card registration rules. The unprecedented fine immediately sends shock waves around the world and the government reduces the fine to $3.9billion. The new figure is still considered abnormal and MTN decides to challenge the government in court but not before the company's Nigeria CEO, Michael Ikpoki's resignation.
· Agitation for actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra gains traction with Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra detained for treasonable felony. Several lives are lost in the ensuing clash with law enforcement authorities in Onitsha. Federal authorities refuse to release Kanu as ordered by both Magistrate and Federal High Courts and bring a new action for treasonable felony. The presiding judge recuses himself in light of the disobedience of his previous order to release Kanu and remits the case back to the Chief Administrative Judge.
· Amidst the brouhaha, agitators for the actualization of the state of Biafra disown the Ohaneze Ndigbo and Eastern states governors as speaking for them. The tug of war is still on.
· The international price of oil slides to a 25 year low to $35 a barrel hitting Nigeria's revenue severely.
· The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal government adopt monetary policies that impact the exchange rate. Consequently, the Naira slides to 280 naira to the dollar causing immediate structural adjustment to life in the country.
· With reduced revenue, distribution of foreign exchange becomes more stringent. Government stops citizens from using their credit or bank cards abroad in order to control foreign currency transactions.
· Many States in the federation go bankrupt and stop paying civil servants as at when due causing concerns about the viability of the states.
· The CBN's centralized biometric identification system for the banking industry tagged Bank Verification Number (BVN), comes on stream. According to CBN, the purpose of the project is to use biometric information as a means of first identifying and verifying all individuals that have account(s) in any Nigerian bank and consequently, as a means of authenticating customer's identity at point of transactions; to provide a uniform industrially accepted unique identity for Bank Customers; and to authenticate transactions without the use of cards using only biometric features and PIN.
· Nigeria's senate generates huge controversy and criticism over its consideration of an anti-social media bill. Further, the National Assembly is reported to be on a shopping spree for an unnecessary fleet of cars despite the trying times and after giving out car loans to legislators.
· Nigeria wins the FIFA U- 17 world soccer championships and Under 23 Africa Cup of Nations.
· Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) limited, operator of Nigerian CommunicationSatellite wins a bid to provide In-Orbit tests and carrier monitoring services for Belintersat-1 Satellite, a Belarus' satellite for a fifteen year period. This effectively puts Nigeria as an international player in space technology. The operation begins this January with the launch of the Belarus' satellite.