OPEN EYES on The Southerner Newspaper
Thursday, January 1, 2026

As Nigeria strides into 2026, the atmosphere is thick with a palpable tension between lingering shadows of the past and fragile, emerging lights of hope renewed. The nation stands at a critical juncture, its immediate future shaped by a tumultuous few years defined by severe insecurity and systemic governance failures across all levels of democratic structures.

The scars of rampant banditry in the northwest, herder-farmer clashes in the middle-belt, separatist agitations in the southeast, and the persistent, adaptive threat of terrorism in the northeast remain deeply etched on our national psyche. These security challenges, more than any other factor(s), have dictated the pace of development, displaced communities, shattered agricultural cycles, and crippled investor confidence, creating a humanitarian and economic crisis that 2026 must urgently address.

The effectiveness of ongoing kinetic and non-kinetic security strategies will be the foremost metric by which the government’s competence is judged in the public eye.

Compounding the security predicament is the entrenched issue of bad governance, characterized by bureaucratic inertia, fiscal leakages, tolerance for corruption, and a troubling disconnect between policy promises and tangible outcomes.

In a country where the former Chief Law Officer, Abubakar Malami is allegedly linked to multi-billion Naira loot and possible sponsor of terrorism, yet, has not been made to face the wrath of the law, then questions abound on the sincerity of the Federal Governant’s pursuant for justice! It is worthy to add that, for much of the current administration’s tenure, citizens have grappled with the harsh realities of subsidy removal, a volatile foreign exchange regime, and inflation that eroded purchasing power, with little visible transformative infrastructure or social cushioning to show for the sacrifice.

Thus, this governance deficit has fueled widespread disillusionment, fostering a narrative of elite indifference that threatens social cohesion. The credibility of the political class, at both federal and state levels, hangs in the balance, making the year 2026 a vital period for demonstrable, impactful governance.

This writer is authoritative on the fact that the impending implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws, including the Nigerian Tax Reforms Act 2025 provisions effective from 2026, is met with widespread public skepticism and doubt, centered on fears of increased compliance burdens without corresponding improvements in public services and infrastructure.

Many Nigerians, already grappling with a high cost of living and a multiplicity of levies, question the efficiency and equity of the expanded tax net, particularly the capital gains tax on shares and the streamlined VAT regime, worrying that it may stifle investment and further burden the informal sector and low-income earners.

To build trust and ensure the laws achieve their revenue mobilization and economic growth objectives, the government must prioritize significant adjustments: enhancing transparency by publicly linking tax revenue to specific developmental projects, implementing robust palliatives and graduated compliance frameworks for small businesses and vulnerable groups, and embarking on a massive nationwide sensitization campaign to clarify the laws’ provisions and benefits. Furthermore, a critical review and simplification of the tax filing process through digital innovation, alongside a demonstrable commitment to curbing fiscal leakages and government profligacy, are indispensable to persuading a doubtful citizenry that these reforms are a pathway to shared national prosperity rather than merely an additional extraction mechanism.

As mentioned in last week’s edition of my discourse, a cautious narrative of economic revival began to flicker in the latter half of 2025. Driven by targeted interventions in agriculture, modest gains in oil production, and the slow-burn effects of earlier reforms, key economic indicators showed tentative signs of stabilization.

The inflation rate, though still high, began a gradual descent, while the naira found a more stable, if still fragile, footing in the foreign exchange markets. The critical test for 2026 is whether this nascent recovery can be deepened and felt in the pockets of ordinary Nigerians.

Can the government translate macroeconomic gains into job creation, affordable food, and reliable power? Why should the aforementioned rhetorical questions return in definite negation? The answer will determine if 2025’s flicker becomes 2026’s sustained flame or merely a fleeting mirage. Should it come as expected (in negation), then another question would be how has job creations, provision of uninterrupted power supply, fight against corruption, etc etc become rocket science in the Nigerian space?

Going forward, as the administration crosses its mid-point, and 2027 elections draws nearer, the demand for scorecards shall grow louder this year. Citizens shall be scrutinizing pledges on power sector revitalization, massive road and rail infrastructure, curb in insecurity, fight against corruption, and social welfare programs.

At the state level, governors are under similar pressure to deliver on promises of education reform, healthcare upgrades, and intra-state infrastructure. 2026 is, in essence, the “delivery year,” where ongoing projects must visibly near completion and stalled initiatives require resuscitation. The political cost of perceived failure is immense, as the populace’s patience, already worn thin, is nearing its end. The year ushers in an avenue to consider alternatives to status quo!

Let it be know that, all these dynamics converge as a potent prelude to the 2027 general elections. The political landscape in 2026 will be dominated by early maneuvering, realignments, and the rhetoric of succession. The performance (or non-performance) of the current officeholders will directly fuel opposition narratives (if at all we have worthy oppositions), and influence the calculations of would-be aspirants.

Every policy announcement, every economic statistic, and every security incident will be viewed through a partisan lens, potentially overshadowing governance with politicking. This electioneering shadow could either instigate a new wave of populist policy drives or, conversely, cause strategic paralysis as actors prioritize political survival over national interest.

Beyond the economy and elections, other critical scorecards will be assessed. The nation’s stance on continental leadership, the momentum of its digital economy, and the state of its educational institutions facing perennial strike threats are all subplots demanding attention.

Added to that, the social fabric, strained by ethnic and religious tensions, will require deliberate and empathetic national reorientation dialogue. The challenge for 2026 is to navigate these multifaceted issues simultaneously, avoiding the pitfall of focusing on one crisis while allowing another to fester.

To crown it all, Nigeria in 2026 is a story yet to be written. It is a year that holds the prospect of consolidating a fragile economic recovery and reclaiming security, thereby restoring a measure of public trust. Nevertheless, it carries the risk of backsliding into deeper instability if governance remains perceived as aloof and ineffective.

The interplay between a government racing to prove its worth, an opposition (unreliable though) sharpening its knives, and a weary yet resillient populace will define this pivotal year. The path Nigeria takes will not only set the tone for 2027 elections, but could determine the nation’s trajectory for a generation.

On this note, I have opened the eyes of my readers once again! May the sun shine tomorrow…