List of Economic Challenges Waiting for Next Presidents As Buhari Prepares To Leave Office
- A report has detailed what awaits Nigeria's next president after the 2023 general elections
- The numerous challenges were summarized into six essential areas that are expected to impact Buhari's successor's performance
- Abubakar Atiku, Bola Tinubu, and Peter Obi are among the front-runners for the office
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As Nigerians prepare to vote for their preferred candidates to succeed president Muhammdu Buhari the issues that lie ahead are worrisome.
Bloomberg in a new report has provided further insights on the issues pointing out that whoever wins is expected to inherit a lot of burdening economic problems.
The concerns raised include repayment of debts, fiscal deficit, crude oil production, poverty, unemployment rate, and inflation.
Source: Facebook
Others are skilled Nigerian youths leaving the country, insecurity, external reserves, and slow economic growth.
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Here are the six challenges waiting for Nigeria’s next president
Heavy debt repayment
Data from the Budget Office of the federation show that every year since 2015, the federal government has spent more money servicing debt.
The trend is expected to continue in 2023, judging by the 2023 budget which shows that the government is budgeted to spend N6.31 trillion on debt servicing, 75 percent higher than the amount in the 2022 budget and 50 percent more than the actual amount spent in 2021.
More so, the Debt Management Office revealed that Nigeria's debt will hit as high as N77 trillion by June 2023, one month after the next president assumes office.
Revenue problem
Nigeria has struggled to meet its budgeted oil production over the years due to oil theft, and pipeline vandalism, and in 2022, it lost its status to Angola as the largest oil producer for six months straight due to rampant crude oil theft, according to OPEC.
Over 130 million poor Nigerians will be waiting for the next president.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently released its Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report which it stated that 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor.
It said of the total 133 million, 86 million affected persons live in the North while nearly 47 million live in the southern part of the country.
Unemployment Rate
In the fourth quarter of 2020, the country's unemployment rate jumped to 33%. Although unemployment figures for 2021 have not yet been revealed, the Presidential Economic Advisory Committee predicted that the rate had risen to 40%.
Rising Inflation
The country’s inflation rate hit its highest in 17 years in July of 2022 at 19.64 percent and has persistently risen to 21.47 percent as of November 2022, further fueling the cost-of-living crisis currently eroding the country.
Japa
Nigerians have increasingly exited the country in search of greener pastures, resulting in a shortage of skilled workers in many workplaces and making it harder for businesses to acquire the talent they want.
FG says Port Harcourt refinery ready, sets production date
Meanwhile, in another report, the federal government of Nigeria has revealed the date for the completion of the Port Harcourt refinery
In 2021, NNPC during the award of the repair works contract to an Italian firm, Tecnimont promised 18 months of completion
The Port Harcourt refinery is now set to have its first production in the next two months
Source: Legit.ng
