Insecurity Threatens to Overshadow President Tinubu's Reform Achievements
In a recent global incident, the Iranian military shot down a U.S. Air Force aircraft, leading to a high-stakes search for a bailed-out airman. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly used disinformation tactics in Iran to protect the airman until his rescue, highlighting the powerful role of information management and manipulation. This narrative underscores how negative information, if left unchecked, can undermine governance, making it crucial for governments to control their messaging.
The Urgent Need for State Police Reform
In Nigeria, avoidable negative information about the government should not be allowed to fester, especially regarding insecurity. The concept of state police, currently under development, should be emphasized to showcase President Bola Tinubu's prioritization of addressing this critical issue. However, the proposed 60-month (five-year) implementation framework by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) panel for establishing a state police system appears unviable and ineffective. Ending insecurity in Nigeria is urgently desired, and a phased implementation starting within 90 days—three months—is a more feasible proposition.
The IGP panel's recommendation is reminiscent of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which languished on the drawing board for nearly two decades before being passed into law as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in a piecemeal manner under President Muhammadu Buhari's administration. Learning from this experience, President Tinubu's administration must be cautious to avoid similar bureaucratic delays that could hinder the adoption of state police, aimed at stemming Nigeria's worsening insecurity.
Tinubu's Economic Reforms and Their Impact
In my considered opinion, Nigeria's centralized policing system is hindering the effectiveness of the security ecosystem, much like how petrol and naira subsidies previously bogged down the economy until President Tinubu ended them roughly three years ago. Another positive development under Tinubu's administration is the reform of the colonial-era tax system, which left many Nigerians outside the tax bracket and denied the country much-needed revenue. The passage of new tax laws has removed this clog in Nigeria's wheel of progress.
Additionally, a recent Supreme Court ruling allows for the direct payment of federation allocations into the bank accounts of Nigeria's 774 local governments, rather than passing funds through state governments. If implemented, this would make local government headquarters hubs of economic activity nationwide, countering the current rural-urban drift and human congestion in state capitals and cities.
Remaining Challenges: Electricity and Policing
Despite these achievements, two major yokes continue to strangle Nigeria's growth: the archaic, colonial-era electricity system anchored on a centralized national grid platform and the centralized state policing system, which is currently in the process of reform. Both require urgent attention to unlock Nigeria's full potential.
Recommendations for Accelerated Progress
In conclusion, I recommend that President Tinubu pursue electricity sector reform with the same vigor demonstrated by Taiwo Oyedele, a former KPMG tax expert now elevated to Minister of State for Finance, who drove the tax reform initiative leading to new tax laws. A dynamic, passionate individual with private-sector orientation, like Oyedele, should be tasked with driving this reform to ensure it materializes sooner rather than later.
The same strategic approach should be applied to decentralizing Nigeria's policing system for prompt realization of security improvements, rather than metaphorically kicking the can down the road for a whopping 60-month gestation period as recommended by the IGP panel. By accelerating these reforms, Tinubu can ensure that insecurity does not overshadow his administration's significant achievements.
Onyibe, an entrepreneur, public policy analyst, author, democracy advocate, development strategist, an alumnus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA, a Commonwealth Institute scholar, and a former commissioner in the Delta State government, wrote from Lagos.
