100 days in office: Nigerians await actions on Tinubu’s promises

A few days ago, President Bola Tinubu reached the milestone of 100 days in office, but there was little fanfare to mark the occasion because the day also marked the day on which the Presidential Election lawsuit Tribunal handed down its ruling on the lawsuit challenging his election.

Mr. Tinubu, who is currently in faraway India, was declared the winner after a 13-hour trial. All the petitions against him and his vice president, Kashim Shettima, were thrown out by the panel.

Now that the tribunal decision has been finalized and all ministers have been appointed, Infostride News examines some of the pledges made in the Renewed Hope Manifesto. The focus will be on simple, easily attainable goals.

Nonetheless, President Tinubu did not specify a time frame for the implementation of several of his pledges.

Nigerians are still waiting for measures that will soften the impact of the President’s termination of the gasoline subsidy system. While he did sign the student loan bill into law, students have yet to get their loans and tuition at some institutions has increased.

No more Almajiri, no more classes

Children with bowls in their hands can be seen wandering the streets of major cities in the North, asking for food and money. The students who are sent to live with Islamic scholars are known as Almajiri.

Schools built for the Almajiri as part of Goodluck Jonathan’s attempt to improve the system were left unattended by the Buhari government. Multiple sources estimate that more than 13.5 million children in Nigeria are not in school.

President Tinubu, in his campaign platform, pledged to create a task force to deal with the issue of out-of-school children, to be led by a special czar.

This section of his manifesto reads, “A task force headed by a special czar will be created to address this problem.”

The special czar has yet to address the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria, despite the fact that school is set to resume in September.

Forming a dedicated anti-terror force

Over 600 people have been slain in the first 45 days of Tinubu’s presidency, according to data from SBM Intelligence. The vast majority met their deaths at the hands of outlaws and militants such as Boko Haram, ethnic militias, armed robbers, and bandits.

To combat terrorists, President Tinubu pledged to form a special anti-terror unit. The manifesto claims to have special forces units within the battalion.

Specifically, “highly trained and disciplined anti-terrorist battalions (ABATTS) with special forces units will be created,” it states.

While the people of Nigeria wait, several organizations are still engaged in widespread murder.

Relieving cops of VIP duty

Multiple Nigerian Inspectors General have informed the public that police will no longer serve as VIP bodyguards. There has been no change despite all the proclamations.

Again, in the manifesto, Tinubu pledged to relieve police of such obligations, shifting them instead to the men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).

Acting IGP Olukayode Egbetokun shocked everyone in July by ordering the removal of the Police Mobile Force, also known as MOPOL, from VIP guard duty.

It appears that President Tinubu’s commitment to withdraw all police officers is at odds with the IGP’s directive.

The people of Nigeria are still waiting for President Tinubu to make good on his pledge.

Preventing Oil Theft

Over the past two weeks, Nigerians have seen the military and the personnel of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a company founded by ex-militant Government Tompolo, trade allegations and counter-accusations.

Remember that the government paid the company to keep an eye on the oil pipelines?

But President Tinubu assured the Nigerian people that he would “establish a Special Enforcement and Monitoring Unit.”

The Nigerian people have not yet seen the special monitoring unit; instead, they have to listen to Tompolo and the Navy trade allegations and denials.