100 days into his presidency, Nigerias Muhammadu Buhari faces

serious challenges
Emmanuel Akinwotu is a freelance journalist and PS21 contributor. He
tweets: @ea_akin.
It is too early to define President Buhari's presidency. But the first 100 days
have been illusory; he has made sweeping changes in military personnel and
laid the groundwork for the restructuring of the massively bureaucratic and
shady petroleum sector. But on Boko Haram--what will be the central issue of
his term--progress has been predictably difficult.
Attacks by the Islamist insurgency have increased. Buharis decision to move
the military HQ to Maiduguri in Borno, right in the heart of the conflict, makes
strategic sense but has yet to yield perceivable change. Quite bizarrely,
Buhari has given the military a deadline to defeat the group by the end of the
year. In truth, 'defeat' in an absolute sense is prospectively bleak, if not
unachievable in the medium term. But significantly weakening their capability
is more than plausible.
Yet this is yet to materialise, despite his considerable and much-needed
diplomatic efforts to tighten cooperation with Nigeria's bordering neighbours,
who, to lesser extents, are grappling with the groups threat. Nigeria's
alliances under Goodluck Jonathan were ineffectual and passive. Relations
under Buhari, with Chad, Cameroon and Niger are markedly more proactive.
The joint military operation between the countries could be yet more
effective but is now underway.
An inquiry into the murky finances of the Defence budget has also been set
up. Accusations and press leaks that military equipment was inadequate and
hampering its chances against Boko Haram were damaging to the previous
administration. Again, Buhari seems to be addressing the problem at the root.
His first three months have seen several inquiries and bodies set up to
investigate federal departments and national problems. Appointments have
been slow, but, where they occur, sweeping. The entire board of the NNPC,
Nigeria's petroleum company, were resigned sporadically. Likewise, several
military figures have been replaced.
Broadly, in Nigeria, these sweeping sackings play out well politically for
Buhari. He is the strong man "getting things done". They illustrate conviction

and decisiveness, characteristics central to Buhari's win in the elections in

May. However, even if the changes are welcome, the expectations he stoked
in the election campaign--that Boko Haram would not be the same threat
under his leadership--leave him little time. The internal workings of the fight
against Boko Haram may be more concise and organised, but the bombs and
deaths mount on.
The sense that a concerted anti-corruption drive is needed is prevalent in
Nigeria. Buhari's cabinet remains unannounced, but the lack of speed has
been explicable if not ideal. The presidency is at pains to appoint ministers
who will not be implicated in corruption probes. Dishearteningly, that sharply
diminishes Buhari's options. The economy remains in a poor state. GDP has
fallen to 2.6% as the effect of the election postponement and the fall in oil
price kicks in. The naira has lost 15% in the last year. The Central Bank has
taken frantic steps to avert the slide but the naira has only weakened further.
The lack of a finance minister or clear fiscal policy from the government is
having adverse consequences. 100 days in, it remains to be seen whether
Buhari has a clear plan for the economy.
Yet classically for Nigeria, on the other side of the numerous economic
problems is an ever-growing economic potential. Despite struggling
infrastructure, more and more multinationals are biting the bullet on the
downsides due to the sheer commercial gains of investing in a country as
populous as Nigeria. A young and vastly growing population will present more
challenges but also opportunities.
Buhari's government must navigate those. It may yet do so better than
previous governments but there are few encouraging signs. Ultimately,
amidst several huge challenges ahead, it is on security that the previous
government was spectacularly defeated and on which this government will
likely be defined.
PS21 is a nonpartisan, non-ideological, non-governmental organization. All
views expressed are the authors own.