(CNN) -- Nigeria's government is facing rising religious violence in the north, a long-simmering separatist movement in the oil-rich south and now a nationwide strike fueled by widespread anger over the end of fuel subsidies seen by many as one of the few benefits of living in the largely impoverished state. The issues, all intertwined in Nigeria's complicated web of political, ethnic and religious relationships and rivalries, add up to a difficult challenge for the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, who just a few days ago promised a renewed focus on economic, fiscal and education reforms in 2012. "Jonathan is a president under fire. His actions over the last week are that of a desperate president," Nigerian political journalist Terfa Tilley-Gyado said.
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Nigeria's president is under fire for his government's elimination of a popular fuel subsidy
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Nigerians also question his handling of issues like religious violence, a journalist says
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Goodluck Jonathan says ending the subsidy is critical for Nigeria's future
"With the fuel subsidy, he has put the cart before the horse and has not assured @placeholder that the austerity measures that have been imposed on them are being shared by the those who rule the country," he said.