Broken Promises: Reason Nigerians Are Losing Faith in Tinubu’s Administration
In the busy streets of Calabar, the debate rages on about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Among the dissenting voices is Comfort Odama, a young entrepreneur struggling to keep her small business afloat. “I had high hopes when Tinubu took office,” she says, shaking her head. “But the rising cost of fuel and goods has made running my business almost impossible. People can barely afford to buy anything anymore.”
Similar frustrations resonance in Mbukpa area, where Dominic Mbeh, a schoolteacher, worries about the future of education. “Funding for public schools has dried up, and teachers haven’t been paid in months,” he laments. “How can a country progress when the foundation—education—is so neglected?”
For many Nigerians, Tinubu’s presidency has been synonymous with economic hardship, insecurity, and dwindling hope. Critics argue that his policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and alleged mismanagement of funds, have deepened the country’s struggles.
In Edgerley Road, Mr. Bassey Ededem, a healthcare worker, explains how the healthcare sector has been ravaged under Tinubu’s leadership. “Hospitals are running out of supplies, and the government isn’t doing enough,” she says. “We’re overworked, underpaid, and the people are suffering.”
But it isn’t just healthcare that’s bearing the brunt. Farmers like Akpet Kingsley in northern Cross River face an uphill battle against rising fertilizer prices. “Tinubu promised to support agriculture,” he says, leaning on his hoe. “But where is that support? We’re left to fend for ourselves while importers benefit.”
The removal of fuel subsidies, a bold move by the administration, was meant to reinvest funds into infrastructure and social services. Instead, critics like Ebekpo Ironbar, an economist, claim that the lack of transparency has fueled public distrust. “People want to see where their sacrifices are going,” Ironbar says. “So far, it’s just been more suffering.”
For Bernard Obio, a Calabar-based activist, the administration has been a wake-up call for Nigerians to demand better governance. “We can’t sit back and let our leaders fail us repeatedly,” she says. “Tinubu’s government is not just failing—it’s outrightly ignoring the cries of the people.”
Others, like Effio Ene, a graduate struggling to find a job in Lagos, who just returned back in Calabar due to frustration, blame systemic corruption for the nation’s woes. “Every day, we hear of billions being siphoned off,” he says. “Meanwhile, we can’t get jobs, and the infrastructure keeps crumbling.”
Obal Ibe, she just returned from Kaduna, a mother of three, recounts how insecurity has made life unbearable. “Kidnappers and bandits are everywhere,” she says tearfully. “We voted for change, but what did we get? More fear and hopelessness.”
While discontent grows, some still see hope coming. Effiong Dennis, a political analyst, believes Tinubu inherited challenges that no leader could solve overnight. “He’s dealing with decades of mismanagement,” Dennis says. “While his policies are controversial, there’s potential if reforms are properly implemented. Therefore, I want to humbly appeal to Nigerians to still hope for tomorrow, as change will definitely come”
Yet this optimism is rare. Grace Etim, a student in Calabar, feels that young Nigerians have been abandoned. “We’re told to work hard and stay hopeful, but there are no opportunities,” she says. “The government has failed us.”
I speak as a Niger Deltan, my name is Timipreye Barakumo, an environmental activist, criticizes Tinubu’s administration for neglecting oil-producing communities. “Our lands are polluted, and promises of cleanup are just empty words,” he says. “When will we matter?”
Despite the overwhelming criticisms, a few Nigerians like Samuel Ajayi, a Lagos-based trader, who came into Calabar recently, argue that patience is needed. “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” he says. “Tinubu has made mistakes, but we should give him time.”
However, Grace Abel, a nurse in Calabar, disagrees vehemently. “Time? We don’t have time when people are dying from hunger and lack of care,” she exclaims. “Come to the hospital from there you will discover that Nigeria is finished, patients can’t afford drugs again, drugs that was sold at N2,000 during Johnathan administration, goes to N6000 during Buhari’s time in government, now that drugs cost between N10,000 and N15,000. Those who can’t afford those drugs are dying like chicken in their numbers on daily bases”
The divisive nature of Tinubu’s administration is also evident in how his policies have widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Mesembe Mbukpa, a social commentator, sums it up: “Tinubu’s government has favored the elite while the masses bear the brunt. It’s not just bad governance—it’s an outright betrayal of trust.”
In the midst of this, Ubi Amos, a former Tinubu supporter, reflects on his disappointment. “I campaigned for him, believing in his vision,” he says. “But now, I feel like I’ve led my people into a deeper abyss.”
From farmers to traders, teachers to students, the consensus among most Nigerians is that Tinubu’s administration has fallen short of its promises. While some advocate for patience and reforms, the prevailing sentiment is one of frustration and disillusionment.
As the nation wrestles with economic uncertainties, insecurity, and a widening trust deficit, the question remains: Can President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rise to the occasion and steer Nigeria towards a brighter future? Or will his administration go down in history as the worst and complete failed government of unmet expectations and missed opportunities?
