Nigeria is in a recession, a far different situation from what was promised by the current All Progressives Congress-led government when it came to power.
As inflation figures soar and Nigerians grapple with their dwindling purchasing power and the lack of basic amenities and access to a decent life, many are calling on the government to urgently halt the trend.
Unfortunately, many of the people charged with preventing an already bad situation from getting worse and helping President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his many promises are missing in action.
From his cabinet, here are some of the ministers that are MIA:
Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Usani Uguru
One of the most talked about issues in Nigeria currently is the attacks on oil facilities by militants, a development which has greatly limited the country ability to export its main export, crude oil.
With different militant group, topped by the Niger Delta Avengers, wreaking havoc in the oil-rich Niger Delta, one would expect Uguru to be in the news. Not only has he failed to get a grip on the situation, he has been missing from talks about a resolution of the crisis. President Buhari, the Chief of Army Staff and even non-government officials such as Edwin Clark have overshadowed him. Even when the Federal Government said it was negotiating with the militants, his name didn’t come. Do we have a minister for the ministry, which was created in September 2008 by the President Umaru Musa Yar’adua? Yes. Where is he? Missing in Action.
2. Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Al Hassan
Women all over the world are fighting for equality, fighting to have their fundamental rights respected. The situation is no different in Nigeria. Bar the Middle East, the plight of women in Africa would arguably top others. And in Nigeria, many issues abound. Over 200 Chibok schoolgirls are missing, and evidence of child marriage and sexual abuse as well as rape abound. Add to that the notorious trafficking which has seen young Nigerian girls enslaved by prostitution syndicates and the horrible child-selling racket, the country’s Minister of Women Affairs should have her hands full. But again and again, Aisha Alhassan has failed to take a front seat role when this issue come up. Is it the Ese Oruru saga? The gender issues in the Senate? or female genital mutilation? She has either failed to take the lead or waited to be dragged in. MIA.
3. Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali
Let’s categorise Nigeria’s security challenges: North-East – Boko Haram insurgency; North-Central/South-East – Herdsmen conflict; Niger Delta – Militancy; South-East/South-West/South-South – Kidnapping. In all of these conflicts, including the Biafran uprising and Army-Shiite clash, the name Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali did not pop up. There was Buhari, Buratai, Audu Ogbe, El-Rufai and IGP Arase – who is now retired, among others. The name of Ali, who is Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, was MIA. Okay, go to the streets and ask, ‘Who is Nigeria’s minister of defence?’ You are bound to get ‘Er… Er…’ Missing in Action. Ali must go?
4. Minister for Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu
The science and technology ministry has the mandate of facilitating the development and deployment of science and technology apparatus to enhance the pace of socio-economic development of the country through appropriate technological inputs into productive activities. Yet there are many things happening on the technology scene in Nigeria with little to show for it as a nation.
Recently, a Nigerian, Alabi Olusola generated electric power from potato, while another one Aghogho Ajine, a 20-year-old built a drone in Edo State. There are still many more been achieved in the country, yet the ministry appears not to notice. The minister is apparently MIA
5. All the ministers of state
How many ministers of state can you name or do you know? … You see? That’s because they are all MIA.
What do you think?
