• Main News
  • About Us
  • Contact
Premium Times Opinion
Sunday, January 29, 2023
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight
No Result
View All Result
Premium Times Opinion

From US to Morocco: Is Buhari’s Fortunes Dwindling?, By Zainab Suleiman Okino

by Premium Times
December 14, 2016
Reading Time: 4 mins read
5

buhari-and-king-of-morocco

The economy is in shambles, the naira is in a free fall never seen in the history of this country, yet there are no creative ways to address these myriad of problems. It is doubtful if a MoU with Morocco can restart either agro-business or other sectors. I hope very soon, we won’t have to go cap in hand to The Gambia, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Chad and Somalia to beg them to come and rescue us?


In the first year of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency, he travelled to about 30 foreign countries, some of them world powers and the most developed, among which are US, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Asian giant, China. Although the trips attracted criticisms from Nigerians, the presidency justified these and said the shuttle diplomacy was part of efforts by the government to attract investment for the growth and development of the country; shore up Nigeria’s image and solicit support for the war against terror, and Boko Haram in particular. Sadly, and despite signing bilateral agreements with these countries, Nigeria is still in the saddle; our image has hardly changed; development has eluded us, while Boko Haram is yet to be defeated. This last weekend alone, Boko Haram attacked Madagali in Adamawa State and killed over 50 people, while two suicide bombers died in a failed mission before getting to their targets.

If the foreign trips are not paying off, what are the parameters for their failure? They manifest in the lack of commitment to mutual deals signed, because it could mean loss of businesses by some of these countries. For example, Nigeria imports over 100 billion dollar worth of goods from China annually without any record of exports from Nigeria.

The kind of MoUs signed with smaller and less influential countries these days also matters. Two weeks ago the Buhari government played host to King Mohammed VI of Morocco. The outcome of that visit was the signing of a bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Morocco, mainly on the agriculture ecosystem. Others are the agreement between OCP and Dangote Group to develop fertiliser business and strengthen the local blending capabilities of Nigeria, exemption of visas for diplomatic and official service passports, bilateral air service and marine fisheries cooperation agreements.

The last time I checked, Morocco was a tourism destination for those who want to explore North Africa. Morocco has a population of over 33 million and has phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish and salt as natural resources. We have all these and more, and it is that country a giant (with clay feet anyway) had to run to for succour.


The agreement on fertiliser was said to be meant for food security, employment generation, as well as to address problem of rural-urban migration. According to Femi Adeshina, “more than two million tonnes of fertiliser are to be sent to Nigeria in the next three years before the fertiliser plant to be built by Dangote goes into operation…” This is about the most bizzare agreement. In the almost two years of this government, we have been talking agriculture. This country used to have vibrant fertiliser plants that provided employment and produced for Nigerians. A government of change should have revived it to feed the local agriculture business and provide employment. Now it had to take almost two years to think out an agreement on fertiliser supply. The last time I checked, Morocco was a tourism destination for those who want to explore North Africa. Morocco has a population of over 33 million and has phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish and salt as natural resources. We have all these and more, and it is that country a giant (with clay feet anyway) had to run to for succour.

The China-Nigeria deals were the most celebrated as they were greeted with fanfare. Nigeria went with over 100 businessmen and sealed MoUs with about 300 Chinese companies, including to construct a 300 megawatts solar power plant in Shiroro, construct and equip a granite mining plant, invest to develop a Greenfield expressway for Abuja-Ibadan-Lagos, construct an ultra-modern 27 storey highrise, develop the Lagos Metro rail transit, establish a high-tech industrial park in Ogun State, among others. One wonders how China would help us develop the electricity sector, when we are a huge (or only) market for their generators. The icing on the cake was that transactions would henceforth be in Yuan, the Chinese currency, in order to bypass the dollar, which was rising astronomically. Months after, we are yet to see the benefits of all these deals. Those who want to import from China are still looking for dollars and not Yuan.

When Buhari came in newly… There was a flood gate of opportunities for his government to grab. Almost two years after, the Nigerian narrative is yet to change positively. It is rather disappointing that the nation’s fortune is actually dwindling.


When Buhari came in newly, he had a groundswell of goodwill and people hungered for the change he promised. Initially, some of the regime’s missteps were even excused on the basis of learning the ropes. The developed countries of the world were ready to do business with his government. There was a flood gate of opportunities for his government to grab. Almost two years after, the Nigerian narrative is yet to change positively. It is rather disappointing that the nation’s fortune is actually dwindling.

When, therefore, the country went into another partnership with a low-rated third world country like Morocco the other day, it was like the chicken coming home to roost. What do you expect from a government that has lost relevance abroad and now derided at home. The economy is in shambles, the naira is in a free fall never seen in the history of this country, yet there are no creative ways to address these myriad of problems. It is doubtful if a MoU with Morocco can restart either agro-business or other sectors. I hope very soon, we won’t have to go cap in hand to The Gambia, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Chad and Somalia to beg them to come and rescue us?

zainabsule@yahoo.com, www.zainabokino.blogspot.com

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Previous Post

Travelling Light the Arik Way (1), By Dele Agekameh

Next Post

MMM Transactions Are Against Principles of Islam, By Murtada Gusau

Related Posts

Trust and Confidence Building As Conditions of Good Governance, By Uddin Ifeanyi
Columns

The Policy Implications of 2021’s Low Growth Projections, By Uddin Ifeanyi

February 1, 2021
Akinwunmi Adesina: Africa’s Spotless Son, By Wole Olaoye
Columns

Iron Woman of Berlin, By Wole Olaoye

January 31, 2021
Rethinking Heroism and the Nigerian Civil Service, By Festus Adedayo
Columns

Aliko Dangote’s Costly Mess of the Libido, By Festus Adedayo

January 31, 2021
Why Lai Mohammed Must Be Fired Immediately, By Femi Aribisala
Article of Faith

Is God Invisible?, By Femi Aribisala

January 31, 2021
Religion As Africa’s Trojan Horse, By Osmund Agbo
Columns

South-East Governors: Preparing For a Post-oil and Restructured Nigeria, By Osmund Agbo

January 30, 2021
People Deserve The Coach They Hire, By Owei Lakemfa
Columns

Again, Entombed Humans Triumph Over Death, By Owei Lakemfa

January 30, 2021
Next Post
The Value and the Power of Words In Islam, By Imam Murtada Gusau

MMM Transactions Are Against Principles of Islam, By Murtada Gusau

Soyinka, “Wolexit” and Hero-bashing, By Tunji Olaopa

Teaching History in Nigeria Today: Challenges and Prospect, By Tunji Olaopa

Editorial

  • EDITORIAL: The Urgency of Tackling Nigeria’s Second Wave of COVID-19

    EDITORIAL: The Urgency of Tackling Nigeria’s Second Wave of COVID-19

  • EDITORIAL: Unearthing the Cogent Lessons In the NESG-CBN Economic Policy Imbroglio

    EDITORIAL: Unearthing the Cogent Lessons In the NESG-CBN Economic Policy Imbroglio

  • EDITORIAL: COVID-19: Calling On Nigeria’s Billionaires and Religious Leaders To Step Up

    EDITORIAL: COVID-19: Calling On Nigeria’s Billionaires and Religious Leaders To Step Up

  • EDITORIAL: Bichi Must Go; Buhari Must Halt Slide Into Despotism

    EDITORIAL: Bichi Must Go; Buhari Must Halt Slide Into Despotism

  • EDITORIAL: The Flaws In Governor Emefiele’s Five-Year Plan For Central Bank of Nigeria

    EDITORIAL: The Flaws In Governor Emefiele’s Five-Year Plan For Central Bank of Nigeria

Subscribe to our Opinion articles via email

Enter your email address to get notifications of new opinion articles as they are published.

Join 526,545 other subscribers

Most Popular

  • The Bad Consequences and Dangers of Adultery and Fornication (Zina) In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Bad Consequences and Dangers of Adultery and Fornication (Zina) In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • Islam and the Conditions For Marrying More Than One Wife, By Murtadha Gusau
    Islam and the Conditions For Marrying More Than One Wife, By Murtadha Gusau
  • The Qualities of a Good Leader In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Qualities of a Good Leader In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • World Teachers Day and The Position of Teachers In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    World Teachers Day and The Position of Teachers In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • You Will Be Held Responsible On What Happened To Your Children!, By Murtadha Gusau
    You Will Be Held Responsible On What Happened To Your Children!, By Murtadha Gusau
  • The Dangers of Evil and Misguided Clerics/Scholars In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Dangers of Evil and Misguided Clerics/Scholars In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • The Women Prohibited For Men To Marry In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Women Prohibited For Men To Marry In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Podcasts

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

  • Main News
  • About Us
  • Contact

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
 

Loading Comments...