My predictions for 2025

Trust Nigerians men of God and prophets to always kick off the year with prophecies and predictions. But have you noticed how thin the prophetic airwaves have been this year? Our usually vociferous prophets seem to have lost their voice, or perhaps their crystal balls need some serious polishing. The spiritual business must be experiencing some downturn.

I chuckled when I read a prophecy about natural disasters in 2025. Really? Predicting floods in Nigeria is like prophesying that the sun will rise tomorrow. With our perennial poor drainage systems and the global climate crisis, you don’t need divine inspiration to see that coming. It’s like predicting traffic in Lagos – a safe bet any day of the week.

Let me put on my soothsayer’s hat and make some predictions of my own. And no, I won’t claim any celestial visions – just good old common sense and trend analysis. Sometimes, the most accurate predictions come from simply paying attention to the patterns around us.

On the economic front, brace yourselves. That fuel price isn’t going anywhere below N900, no matter how many players enter the market. The reality of our import-dependent economy and global oil prices won’t magically disappear. And if you’re hoping for the naira to suddenly find its feet, don’t hold your breath. I see the exchange rate playing ping-pong between N1,500 and N1,800, with January likely to give us some real heart palpitations. The fundamentals haven’t changed enough to expect any dramatic improvements.

About that controversial tax reforms bill – mark my words, it’s getting passed this year. Sure, there will be the usual political theatre, some horse trading, and perhaps a few concessions thrown in to sweeten the deal. But at the end of the day, that bill is crossing the finish line. The government needs revenue too desperately to let this one slip away.

Now, let’s talk politics – always my favourite crystal ball viewing. With 2027 lurking around the corner, expect the political circus to be in full swing. Watch as governors and “leaders of thought” trip over themselves to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term. The newspaper front pages will soon look like a Tinubu praise-singing contest. It’s a familiar dance we’ve seen before – the same steps, just different dancers.

And speaking of politics, keep your eyes on those smooth operators trying to drive a wedge between President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Their endgame? 2027, of course. Some people are already positioning themselves for the next chess move while we’re still in the opening game. Nigerian politics never disappoints when it comes to early scheming.

My crystal ball shows some ministers packing their bags this year. Cabinet reshuffles are coming, and some heads will roll. It’s the natural order of things – performance review time always claims its victims. Some ministers have been too quiet, others too loud, but performance? That’s another matter entirely.

In Anambra, despite the Peter Obi factor, I see Governor Charles Soludo securing another term. Politics is local, after all, and Soludo has been playing his cards rather well. The academic-turned-politician has managed to maintain a delicate balance between governance and politics, though some might disagree with his methods.

Speaking of Obi, the Labour Party’s future looks rather stormy. Don’t be surprised if both Obi and Abia state governor Alex Otti find new political homes this year. The opposition’s inability to work together – thanks to oversized egos and undersized compromise – will continue to be their Achilles’ heel. History has a funny way of repeating itself in Nigerian politics.

The ethnic and religious fault lines? They’ll likely deepen as the political temperature rises. It’s an old script that our politicians know too well – when in doubt, play the tribal card. We’ve seen this movie before, and sadly, it’s getting another remake in 2025.

On the security front, expect some improvement, though our persistent troublemakers won’t go quietly. They’ll likely attempt some spectacular stunts to prove they’re still relevant, but our military should have the upper hand. The increased funding and better equipment should start showing more results this year.

Entertainment-wise, the eternal Davido-Wizkid-Burna Boy fan wars will rage on – some things never change. Social media will remain their battlefield, with fans turning every achievement into ammunition for their stan wars. But here’s a bright spot: I’m betting on a Nigerian artist bringing home a Grammy this year. Our music industry has grown beyond recognition, and international recognition is becoming more frequent.

The movie industry will keep soaring, churning out more blockbusters that’ll make Nollywood proud. The quality of productions has improved dramatically, and our storytelling is reaching new audiences globally. Expect more Netflix deals and international collaborations.

These aren’t divine revelations – just educated guesses based on patterns and common sense. Unlike our prophets, I won’t claim any supernatural insights. But then again, who needs a crystal ball when you have a front-row seat to Nigerian politics and social dynamics?

The beauty of making predictions is that time will tell how accurate they are. Some will hit the mark, others will miss by miles, but that’s the nature of looking into the future. At least I’m not claiming to have seen visions or heard voices – just sharing observations and educated guesses about where the winds might blow in 2025.

Let’s revisit these predictions in December. I might just have a future career in prophecy – minus the theatrical flourishes, of course. Though I must admit, adding some drama might make it more entertaining. But for now, I’ll stick to my role as an observer of our national theatre, where the script might change, but the actors remain remarkably consistent in their performances.