Goodluck Jonathan general of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission, who was sacked in the wake of a corruption scandal. After the world governing body threatened to suspend $8 million due to Nigeria for its participation in the World Cup, Jonathan bowed to pressure and lifted the ban. On 13 December 2011, the 2012 fiscal year's budget removed any provisions for the existing fuel subsidy. According to a poll carried out by the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE- Nigeria), 80% of Nigerians opposed the plan to remove the fuel subsidy. On 1 January 2012, the Jonathan administration announced the start of a controversial plan
Goodluck Jonathan administration was heavily criticized for its failure to bring back the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram. Many demonstrations called for the government to be more responsive; Jonathan asked that demonstrators focus on blaming Boko Haram itself for the abductions. Jonathan initially denied that there had been any abduction at all, but then later signaled his government would do a prisoner release in exchange for the kidnapped girls. Discussions then took place in Paris with foreign ministers from France, Britain, the United States and Israel, where he agreed no deals should be struck with terrorists. He then called off