Bertelsmann Transformation Index report scores Buhari administration low on governance

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's administration has been castigated for its poor governance record as well as its limited economic and political transformation in a new BTI 2022 Country Report.

Highly respected, the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) measures the development status and governance of political and economic transformation processes in developing and transition countries. Founded in 1977, the report is published biennially by Bertelsmann Stiftung, an independent establishment based in Gütersloh, Germany.

More than 250 experts from leading academic institutions and civil society organisations worldwide assessed 137 nations. Nigeria is 108th overall, occupying 86th spot for political transformation, 113th for economic transformation, and 99th for governance index.

This 31-page report warns that under the weak leadership of President Buhari, dangers in all political fields will persist and continue to shape the system. It said after the lawsuits against the 2019 presidential and gubernatorial election results were dismissed, President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress consolidated power but have failed to meet expectations.

Noting that the last presidential election was seriously flawed, the BTI said President Buhari’s poor performance in his first term continued and even worsened. Also, the body criticised the president’s Covid-19 policies, as well as his inability to professionalise the military in its campaign against the Islamist insurgency,

Furthermore, the report said the military suffered repeated setbacks and faced new challenges in central Nigeria and in the northwest. It added that hundreds of people have been killed by organised criminal gangs involved in cattle rustling, looting villages and kidnapping for ransom.

Also, the report said the increase in violence and crime indicates that endemic corruption has reached new heights and the militarisation of state and society is increasing. According to the BTI, the Buhari administration’s half-heartedly pursued anti-corruption campaign did not yield any significant results either.

In the Corruption Perceptions Index released annually by Transparency International, Nigeria is currently placed 149 out of 180 countries evaluated. Also, the BTI recalled how the peaceful EndSars protests against police brutality and the government were hijacked by hoodlums and criminals and turned into mayhem.

Experts also found violence throughout northern Nigeria increased again and continues to claim jihadists, security forces and civilians. This multi-dimensional violent conflict with various groups of insurgents has spread fast to the border areas of the neighbouring states and the  BTI said people in southern Nigeria remain in the sphere of influence of border conflict, piracy, kidnapping and robbery.

Also, the report decried the authorities’ incoherent policy to bring succour to millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs). It stressed that judging by the attitude, the international community will have to assume responsibility for these IDPs.

Also, the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria heightened over the past few months due to flooding, partly caused by climate change. In its updated November 2022 report, the United Nations indicated that more than 3.2m people are affected, amid food crisis fears.

There were over 600 fatalities, and 1.4m people displaced, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Also, about 14,000 people have been affected by cholera in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states since January, with 443 deaths.

According to the United Nations,  this flooding increases the risk of waterborne diseases and while 4.1m people face severe food insecurity, 1.74m children may suffer from malnutrition this year. Worst affected by the floods are Benue, Kogi, Anambra and Bayelsa states.