As 2012 comes to an end on Monday, December 31, Nigerians remember the good, the bad and the ugly of the year. Indeed, it’s a year they would forget in a hurry, following the bloodletting occasioned mainly by the incessant bombing of Boko Haram as well as kidnapping and armed robbery incidents. Also, the year was characterized by flood, air crashes, sleaze and other tragedies.
In this report, we outline some of the things that happened in 2012.
Oil subsidy removal
Nigerians woke on January 1, 2012 to a new fuel price regime, as the Federal Government hiked the price from N65 to N140 per litre, as announced by the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Maduke. According to the government, it was the beginning of the full deregulation of the oil sector and total removal of petroleum subsidy.
Indeed, the debate on the removal of fuel subsidy was at its fever pitch before Nigerians embarked on 2011 Christmas. Believing that the government was bent on removing the subsidy, Nigerians had conditioned their minds to expect this in April 2012. Therefore, they were shocked when the announcement of the removal came and took affect in January.
To say the least, this announcement was a spoiler for the New Year celebration, causing Nigerians to react. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had given an ultimatum for the government to revert to the former price or face a strike. Also, the civil society groups gave notice of a mass action.
With government insisting on the full removal of subsidy, NLC and TUC made good their threat by calling out workers on an industrial action. Also, civil society groups, in collaboration with Labour, staged mass action in major cities in the country. As expected, the government unleashed state security apparatus to restore law and order. This, invariably, resulted in loss of lives and property across the country.
The tenacity of the protesters for the seven days it lasted had forced government to backslide grudgingly to the current price of N97 per litre on January 15 after a series of negotiation with Labour. Although the collateral damage to the polity could not be accurately quantified, the economy lost about N733 billion. A breakdown of this figure showed that the banking sector lost about N400 billion; information and communication technology lost N160 billion; maritime industry recorded about N96 billion loss, aviation lost N18billion, while manufacturing lost N10 billion.
The great flood
For residents of over 17 states along the coast of River Niger, their experiences between July 1 and October 31 could be likened to the people in the days of biblical Noah when God, in His wrath, destroyed the earth with flood. To them, the fury of God has come with flood. According to information gathered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on floods from July 1 to October 31, “363 persons died while 18,282 others were treated for injuries they sustained during the flooding. A total of 7.7 million people were affected during the period, of which 2.1 million were officially registered across the country as internally displaced persons.”
The flood, which was unprecedented, was caused by waters from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. In some states, however, the flood was caused by rains and overflow of internal rivers.
The flooding started in Plateau State, in central Nigeria in July and spread through Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina and Kebbi states in August. It hit Taraba, Benue, Niger, Kaduna and Kano in September, before affecting Anambra, Delta and Bayelsa states in October. In August, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had predicted heavy rains, warning local authorities and residents to keep drainages clear.
The government had responded to the flood disaster by doling out N17.6 billion to rehabilitate the victims. It also set up a committee to raise funds. Several international NGOs, including Oxfam, launched responses, while Nigeria Red Cross, responding in 10 states, is appealing for $850,000 to boost its efforts. Aid agencies were overwhelmed by the extent of the damage and response needed.
Pension funds sleaze
Barely four days after partial return to normalcy, the polity, again, was stirred by about N151billion sleaze at the Pension Commission. A joint investigation by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Pension Reform Task Team (PRIT) uncovered this monumental fraud across the country.
Supreme court sacked five governors
Supreme Court sacked five governors in verdicts delivered on January 27. The sacked governors included Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River). The Supreme Court ruled that their tenure elapsed on May 29, 2011, despite the fact that there were rerun elections in their states following the annulment of the 2007 governorship elections that brought them to power.
Al-Mustapha’s death sentence
Lagos High Court pronounced a death sentence on Major Al-Mustapha, Abacha’s security goon and Shofolahan, former Chief Moshood Abiola’s domestic aide on January 30, 2012, over the death of Abiola’s wife, Kudirat.
Easter Day bombing
On April 8, 36 people were killed and several others injured in an Easter Day bombing in Kaduna. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack. The group dropped the bomb at a major road leading to Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna metropolis, resulting in the death of more than 36 people. Scores of bystanders were injured.
Ibori goes to jail
Judge Anthony Pitts, in a London Court sentenced former Governor James Ibori of Delta State to 13 years in prison on April 17. The court found him guilty of corruption and money laundering offences at the South-Wark Crown Court 9. However, Ibori will serve only seven years and nine months since the sentence included the period he had spent in detention.
House of Reps scandal
The House of Reps Adhoc Committee on fuel subsidy presented its report to the House. This report exposed the key actors in the subsidy payment fraud. In the report, the NNPC, PPRA and other companies were asked to refund N1.067 trillion to the Federal Government.
The nation was, however, shocked when Mr. Lawan Farouk, House of Representatives Committee Chairman on fuel subsidy probe, was accused of demanding $3million bribe from Femi Otedola, Executive Chairman, Zenon Oil and Gas to remove Otedola’s name from the list of indicted oil marketers.
Plane crashes
One hundred and fifty three passengers and crew perished in Dana Airlines flight 9J 992 crashed in Lagos on June 3. The plane left Abuja for Lagos on that fateful Sunday but crashed into Iju-Ishaga, a thickly populated residential area of Lagos.
Also, on October 25, Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai and five of his aides escaped death as their Cessna 208 aircraft lost control and crashed into a hill in Adamawa. On December 15, the nation witnessed yet another air disaster, which culminated in the death of Kaduna State governor, Patrick Yakowa, Gen. Andrew Azazi, former National Security Adviser and three others in a helicopter crash in the forest of Okoroba community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Deaths in entertainment industry
From January 29, it has been tales of woes in Nollywood as number of deaths was recorded in the entertainment industry. Big actors, like David Ihezie, Brown Atienwen, Akin Ogungbe, Enebeli Elebuwa, Cassandra Gabriel, James Iroha, Pete Eneh, Lekan Lekinson, Dento, and Akin Ogungbe died.
Crashed marriages of celebrities
The marriage of Nollywood actress, Gloria Mbah, crashed. Also, movie director, Ruke Amaka’s marriage suffered a major crisis. Marriage of movie director and producer, Tchidi Chikere with actress wife Sofia also crashed. Besides, musician Zakky Adzay’s marriage crashed over allegation of assault. Music producer, K-Solo, also had issues with his marriage, while the marriage of star actor, Joseph Benjamin, crashed.
Celebrity weddings
There were many celebrity marriages. In one of them, ace actress, Uche Jombo, married Puerto Rican, Kenny Rodriguez. Stephanie Okereke married Linus Idahosa and Branama queen, Keffee, wedded Teddy Esosa.
Others that tied the nuptial knot included Funke Akindele and Kenny Almaroof; Mosun Filani and Kayode Oduoye; Tuface Idibia and Ann Macaulay; Kaffy and Joseph Ameh; Victor Osuagwu and Roseline and Charles Inojie and Obehi.
From The Sun
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