Tinubu’s Two Years: Mixed Reactions in South-South as Citizens Weigh Gains in Agriculture, Education Against Economic, Security Woes

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two years in office have drawn mixed reactions across Nigeria’s South-South region, with some residents acknowledging improvements in agriculture and education, while others express concern over worsening economic conditions and security lapses.

In Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States, respondents shared their views with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), revealing a sharp divide in public perception of the administration’s achievements.

In Rivers State, Prof. Anthony Onoja, a Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Port Harcourt, said two of the most significant actions of the Tinubu administration were the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira.

“Although the floating of the naira initially triggered volatility and a sharp rise in the exchange rate against the dollar, some relative stabilisation has been observed in recent months,” he said.

He, however, noted that the subsidy removal inflicted a “substantial shock,” fuelling inflation and deepening hardship. “Poverty levels remain critically high. Recent poverty indices indicate a worsening standard of living, with a significant segment of the population struggling with hunger and joblessness.”

Onoja added that government interventions such as cash transfers had done little to mitigate the situation and criticised the poor state of infrastructure, particularly in power and transport, which he said continued to stifle small and medium enterprises.

“Although there are efforts to expand renewable energy sources, these have yet to produce any tangible impact,” he said.

On security, he expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of herder-farmer conflicts and kidnappings, which he said were displacing farmers and threatening food production.

He commended the private sector’s contribution through the Dangote Refinery but lamented the underperformance of government-owned refineries and the persistent corruption in the oil sector.

“Anti-corruption agencies appear ineffective, with major embezzlement cases often going unpunished. This undermines public trust and hinders economic development,” he said.

Similarly, Mr. Bosinder Araikpe, a Security Relations Consultant in Port Harcourt, gave the administration a low score in the area of security.

“There have not been sufficient improvements to justify a favourable security assessment since 2023,” he said, although he commended the President for appointing service chiefs from all geopolitical zones, which he noted had fostered better national representation.

Dr. Jebbins Ekezie, Executive Director of Youths Advocacy Initiative (YAI), criticised the administration’s performance in youth employment and empowerment.

“Two years later, aside from initiatives such as the Student Loan Programme and interventions by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, there is little to show for it. Lack of viable opportunities in both the public and private sectors has forced many young Nigerians into crime, informal employment, or emigration,” he said.

In Cross River State, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, defended the Tinubu administration, stating that its policies were designed to repair a struggling economy.

“When oil subsidy was removed, everyone cried, but today, the price of petrol has dropped to N900 from about N1,300; though it is still too high, I believe it will continue to drop,” he said.

He also praised the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, saying they have reduced both transportation costs and environmental pollution.

On agriculture, Ekpang cited the distribution of subsidised sprouted nodes and the establishment of a Special Agro Processing Zone in Cross River as achievements that would boost economic activities and exports.

However, Mr. Richard Inoyo, Country Director of Citizens’ Solution Network, offered a critical perspective, especially on security.

“In areas like Benue and Plateau, the herder-farmer clashes are claiming more lives than the Boko Haram crisis. Terrorists in the North-East even seem to have more sophisticated weapons than the Army,” he said.

He added that healthcare had not seen any tangible improvement, with top government officials still seeking medical treatment abroad. He also expressed concern over the impact of higher petrol prices and electricity tariffs on the economy.

“The President would not score high economically when an average boy on the street cannot boast of three square meals. Other countries without Nigeria’s oil wealth live better,” he said.

Mr. Nsa Gil, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Bassey Otu, acknowledged the current hardship but defended the administration’s reforms.

“At the moment, the nation may be feeling some pains in terms of the reforms, but it is a phase that will pass,” he said.

In Akwa Ibom, Senator Ita Enang, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Tinubu’s midterm report reflected a robust economy and improved food production.

He noted that the administration had reactivated refineries for domestic fuel consumption and praised the move to sell crude in naira, which he said reduced pressure on the dollar.

“Nigeria’s domestic refinery refined both jet fuel and petroleum products for export. These are big achievements in Tinubu’s administration,” he said.

He added that the government had increased local rice production and reduced importation, citing cultivation and milling activities in Ikot Essen and Use Ikot Amama in Ibiono Ibom LGA.

On education, Enang commended the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to provide interest-free loans for indigent students.

“Instead of students dropping out of school, President Tinubu introduced the NELFUND for students to take advantage of in order to promote equal access to quality education and foster a knowledge-driven economy,” he said.

He called for greater sensitisation, especially in the South-South and South-East, to dispel the misconception that beneficiaries would be forced to repay the loan immediately after graduation.

Enang also acknowledged ongoing security challenges but said, “The federal government, under the leadership of Tinubu, is doing everything possible to ensure that no part of the country is under any threat of insurgency.”

As President Tinubu marks two years in office, the diverse views from the South-South reflect a complex picture of progress and pain — a government praised for its reformist courage but still under fire for not cushioning the blows of its economic and security policies.