Hunger, Insecurity and Democratic Decline Deepened Nigeria’s Crisis In 2025 – CHRICED
Nigeria entered 2026 carrying the heavy scars of a year marked by hunger, fear and shrinking democratic space, as civil society group, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), delivered a verdict on the nation’s state of affairs.
In a New Year press statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, CHRICED said 2025 exposed the widening gap between Nigerians and those who govern them, with economic hardship, insecurity and political intolerance tightening their grip on the country.
The group noted that inflation, a weakened naira and rising unemployment pushed millions to the brink, forcing families into painful choices over food, education and healthcare.
While government officials celebrated selective economic indicators, CHRICED argued that the lived reality for most Nigerians remained one of hunger and despair, warning that poor support for farmers could worsen food insecurity in 2026.
On governance, the organisation condemned what it described as “extravagance in the midst of scarcity,” faulting the continued neglect of the Oronsaye Report and the expansion of government costs while citizens endured austerity.
CHRICED also raised the alarm over Nigeria’s democratic health, citing flawed off-cycle elections, weakened opposition parties and a growing drift towards a de facto one-party state.
It warned that mass defections to the ruling party had eroded accountability and deepened public disillusionment.
Insecurity, the group said, remained pervasive despite huge security budgets, while civic space continued to shrink as journalists, activists and protesters faced intimidation.
Calling 2026 a “year of courage,” CHRICED urged the government to cut the cost of governance, reform security and judicial institutions, protect civic freedoms and restore trust in elections.
It also challenged citizens to reject vote-buying, demand accountability and defend democracy.
Despite the grim assessment, the organisation insisted hope was not lost, stressing that Nigeria’s future depends on collective resolve and active citizenship.
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