Welcome to the second half of the year, or H2, as people in the corporate world like to call it. Undoubtedly, the first half of the year had many highlights. Godwin Emefiele was Emperor in January as he undertook an ill-conceived naira redesign policy that affected many Nigerians. But by June, the Emperor found himself naked in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Between February and March, the much-anticipated general elections happened, which produced an outcome that disappointed many young Nigerians after INEC failed to live up to its hype. And although we have a new president, the controversy surrounding his seat remains intense due to records of electoral irregularities during the election.
As we enter the second half, we’ve decided to bring you things to look out for in July. So without wasting your time, here we go:
No public holidays
February and March were the only months in the year’s first half without public holidays. Between April and June, public holidays were springing up everywhere. April was on steroids as Christians and Muslims competed to see who knew how best to faaji. We received holiday alerts the same way the FG receives credit alerts from Abacha’s loot. But all that is about to come to a long pause. You’re not getting any holiday nkankan till September 27, almost three months away.
Price hikes
Let’s just be brutally honest here; times are tough. I was on a bus yesterday, and passengers complained about the transportation cost. The bus driver told us to enjoy the ₦300 fare he was charging for a 2km trip from Ikeja Under Bridge to Joel Osinnaike Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. “Tomorrow, it will increase to ₦400. As they’re doing their own, we too will be doing our own,” he said.
Download the Citizen Election Report: Navigating Nigeria’s Political Journey
In a few days, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will release its June report on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or what we call inflation. In May, the inflation rate increased to 22.41%, its fifth successive bump. With the cost of living on the rise, the rise in inflation looks set to continue well into July. The World Bank has projected that inflation will hit 25% by the end of the year. We’re using this medium to beg President Tinubu to let the poor breathe.
Tribunal cases set to continue
Remember what we said earlier about how Tinubu’s presidential seat is highly controversial? That’s because the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) is still ongoing. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are challenging Tinubu’s claim to that seat based on the outcome of the fraught election.
They may also have a new morale booster, as the EU Election Observer Mission released its final report on the elections. The FG has been seething since the report came out. It has rejected it by calling the findings “a poorly-done desk job.” Below is an excerpt from the report’s executive summary:
Likely announcement of the ministerial cabinet
Mr “Hit the ground running” has made some sharp moves in his first month in office. Political analysts continue to speculate who gets a ministerial appointment. There is also an increased expectation that Tinubu will make his announcement soon. If all indications are right, expect a ministerial list in July.
Nigerian women take the world stage
It’s not all politics here, though. There’s one major sporting event to anticipate if you’re Nigerian. The Nigerian women’s national football team, fondly known as “The Super Falcons,” will participate in the FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Nigerian women are the most successful African team, having won the domestic African Cup of Nations 11 out of 14 times. As the competition commences on July 20, you can take time to cheer them on and offer them support. We’ll be rooting for them on our end. Go Falcons!
