On April 4, 2024, residents of Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercialhub, breathed a collective sigh of relief. The pivotal bridge connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, spanning the expansive body of water known as the lagoon, reopened to traffic after undergoing extensive repairs. For the preceding six months, Lagosians endured arduous commutes amid traffic grid lock while the bridge under went maintenance.
This rehabilitation initiative, commenced by the Federal Ministry of Works on November 6, 2023, targeted the 11.3-kilometer-long bridge, famously dubbed the Third Mainland Bridge. Its completion marked a significant milestone, alleviating the commuting woes that plagued motorists and residents of Lagos for half a year.
Coincidentally, the decision to overhaul the bridge aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s assumption of political leadership on May 29, 2023. As it would be recalled in the course of his inauguration, he opted to terminate subsidies on petrol and abolish the dual foreign exchange system, which he identified as hindrance to Nigeria’s development.
Much like the extensive repairs undertaken on the Third Mainland Bridge, Nigeria’s ongoing socioeconomic reforms, spearheaded by President Tinubu, which are deemed essential for the nation’s progress have triggered severe hardships for Nigerians. Despite the undeniable hardships these reforms have imposed on the populace, akin to the inconveniences faced by Lagosians during the Third Mainland Bridge’s rehabilitation, President Tinubu perceives them asinevit a bleand crucial for Nigeria’s long-term stability and growth.
Remarkably, his departure from conventional economic policies, epitomized by the removal of subsidies on petrol and the naira signifies a commitment to confronting challenges head-on. This proactive approach reflects a departure from the statusquo, where leaders often prioritize short-term fixes over addressing underlying structural challenges.
Before delving deeper into the matter, it’s pertinent to contextualize this analogy between the Third Mainland Bridge and President Tinubu’s development agenda for Nigeria. This comparison underscores the parallel between the physical refurbishment of infrastructure and the systemic reforms aimed at rectifying deep-rooted socioeconomic imbalances in our country.
The crux of the matter is this: President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, and he immediately recognized Nigeria’s diresituation, as the economy was teetering on the edge of collapse, and decided that drastic reforms were imperative, akin to a surgical operation, to pull the nation back from the brink. Consequently, he implemented the difficult reforms, effectively placing the country in an Intensive Care Unit(ICU), acriticalcaresectioninahospital where doctors attend to severely ill patients.
Similarly, upon his appointment by President Tinubu, WorksMinister, EngineerDaveUmahi, acknowledged the severe dilapidation of the Third Mainland Bridge. Understanding the potential for massive loss of life if the bridge were to collapse, given that it was constructed 34 years prior in 1990, Umahi made the tough decision not just to give it a facelift but to put the bridge through serious structural rehabilitation. This was essential to ensure the safety of Lagosiansandimprovetransportinfrastructureforenhanced mobility, despite the inconvenience it caused.
In the light of the above, the metaphor of Third Mainland Bridgere habilitation for President Tinubu’s agenda of transforming Nigeria lies in the parallel between President Tinubu’s efforts to completely overhaul Nigeria with a view to resetting the country and Minister, Umahi’s initiative to refurbish the Third Mainland Bridge in a fundamental way. While these decisions initially caused hardship for Nigerians, they hold long-term benefits. Already, after six months of hards hips rising from the closure of the bridge, Lagosians are reaping the rewards of the bridge’s rehabilitation as the perennial traffic gridlock synonymous with Third Mainland Bridge has disappeared. Arising from the above, the initial disruptions and pains that the repairs caused motorists have become like the pains experienced by women during child birth which are easily forgotten when the baby has been safely delivered.
The hope is that President Tinubu’s painful yet necessary socioeconomic reforms will yield results as positive as the euphoria surrounding the reopening of the Third Mainland Bridge on April 4, 2024.
However, as economists must admit, transforming a severely damaged economy is no mean task. If nothing else, itrequiresalongergestationperiodduetobureaucratic process associated with governance. Hence even as it took six months for Third Mainland Bridge (a spec on the myriads of challenges besetting Nigeria) to be delivered, it would take much longer for the impact of Tinubu’sreform policies to fully manifest.
Particularly, from the initial pains to joy as was the case with the Third Mainland Bridge. So, it would be unjust to expect the rejuvenation of a nearly collapsedeconomyafterjustoneyearof his four years tenure.
With out a doubt, previous administrators were aware of the Third Mainland Bridge’s deteriorating condition but opted for temporary fixes to avoid inconveniencing Lagosians. This neglect exposed millions of commuters to the imminent danger of a collapse. Similarly, past leaders hesitated to address the unsustainable practice of subsidizing petrol pump price and multiple exchange rate of the naira, fearing the repercussions of ending it.
It bears repeating that the rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge serves as a metaphor for Nigeria’s economysimplybecausePresidentTinubu’seffortsmirrorthe transformation of thebridgefromahazardousthoroughfare to a symbol of dramatic change. Just as the bridge now standsasatestamenttotransformativeinfrastructure development, I would argueth at Tinubu a imstofortify Nigeria’s economy intoamoreresilientand prosperousentity, akin to the new foundsafetyandconvenienceexperienced by motorists in Lagos.
The assertion above is underscored by the widely held belief among Nigerians that our beloved country was teetering on the brink of becoming a failed state during the previous administration. It wasn’t until the incumbent president, AsiwajuBolaTinubu, assumed office barely one year ago that there was as hiftingovernancestylefocused more on taking the bull by the horns by boldly introducing policies that would provide long term solutions to our country’s myriads of challenges.
This sentiment was succinctly captured by the current governor of Anambra State and former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who aptly describedthestate of the Nigerian economy inherited by President Tinubu on May 29, last year, asa‘ Dead Horse Walking’. In essence, Governor Soludo, who should know by virtue of being ex-CBN governor, affirmed that Nigeria was on the verge of failure before President Tinubu took office.
It’s disheartening to note that many of those now expressing opposition to incumbent president’s reform policies had perhaps hoped for a continuation of the previous administration’s attempts to patch up the ailing economy. However, PresidentTinuburecognizedtheneedforradical change rather than merely tinkering around the edges.
Mr. President’s decision to tackle the root causes of Nigeria’s challenges, such as unsustainable subsidies, signifies a departure from the ineffective strategies of past administrations. This bold approach aims to transform the nation’s narrative for the better by addressing underlying issues head-on.
Analogous to Minister Umahi’s decisive action in fundamentally repairing the Third Mainland Bridge to avert its collapse, President Tinubu’s commitment to ending subsidies on petrol and the naira signifies a resolve to renewhopeforNigerians. Thisentailsenduringshort-term inconveniences for long-termgains, akin to there pairson the bridge.
The successful renovation of the Third Mainland Bridge stands as a testament to President Tinubu’s reform policies, which have all eviated the plight of motorists. Other measures include redirecting more funds to states for rural development, introducing Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, to reduce transportation costs viamasstransitb uses, launching the Renewed Hope housing project across cities nationwide, commencing the coastal road from Lagos to Calabar to spur job creation and facilitate the harnessing of the blue economy, and implementing a student loans program to enhance access to higher education. These initiatives collectively aim to revitalize the nation and uplift its citizens. But to attain the lofty goals Nigerians had to endure pains of being weaned of their enjoyment of subsidy on consumption.
Certainly, there are numerous Nigerians who don’t share the optimism conveyed in this intervention regarding the brighter future that await them if President Tinubu pulls the hattrick
kasit were. The negative sentiment stems from their experience of the hardships caused by ongoing socio-economic reforms, leaving them understandably frustrated and angry. It’s not unjust to empathize with such skepticism and frustration, given that it’s largely fueled by the disappointment from unfulfilled promises made by previous administrations.
There’s a clear pattern of policy reversals contributing to the prevailing cynicism. Reflecting on a few notable instances sheds light on this. One such case is Vision 2020, which presented ambitious life-altering plans, instilling hope for Nigeria’s transformation by 2020. However, these lofty aspirations remain unrealized to date, primarily due to successive administrations’ failure to execute the proposed initiatives.
With President Tinubu’s first anniversary approaching on May 29, marking one-quarter of his four-year term, I urge Nigerians to grant his administration a grace period of another twelve months. Let’s observe if the seeds of development he’s planted over the past year will yield tangible results, providing relief akin to there opening of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
We must consider that one year in office represents only 25% of President Tinubu’stenure. Just as a student enrolled in a four-year degree program wouldn’t be expected to sit for their final exams after the first year, we cannot fully assess an administration’s performance based on such a short timeframe.
Currently, what we’r missing in the polity is patience—a crucial component for maintaining social unity. Tocultivatethispatience, the government should foster optimism for a better tomorrow by actively involving the public in its initiatives and policies, and ensuring its dedication to safeguarding the welfare of the marginalized within society. There have always been two choices open to Nigerians. These are the option of permanent regret or of temporary pain.
For too long, our compatriots have been wallowing in regret having been used to remaining in our comfort zones than to bear the initial pains that would usher us into a more stable and prosperous future. In the focus group meetings, that I have had with Nigerians in the different strata of society there is a feeling that the masses are not being carried along in the programs and policies of government.
If Nigerians believe that they are an integral part of the decision to move away from subsidy on consumption regime reflected by petrol and naira subsidy to the era of subsidy on production suc has there cently introduced loan for university and polytechnic students, they would buy into the agenda of government without much ado.
It is time for government to carry the masses along in governance.
The transformation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos is a proof of concept that positive change from decadence to growth, progress and prosperity for Nigeria and Nigerians can happen when a visionary and bold leader is in charge.
• Magnus Onyibe, an entrepreneur, publicpolicy analyst, author, democracy advocate, development strategist, alumnus of Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USAandaformerCommissionerin Delta State government, sent this piece from Lagos, Nigeria.
To continue with this conversation and more, please visit www.magnum.ng
