Nigeria On The Brink: CSOs Sound Alarm, Demand Urgent Reset Of Governance
At a time when rising revenues should translate into improved living standards, many Nigerians say their reality tells a different story, one of deepening hardship, insecurity, and fading trust in leadership.
A coalition of over 50 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has issued a stark warning that Nigeria is “on the brink of collapse,” calling for immediate and decisive action to address worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and what it describes as a breakdown in governance.
In a joint statement released Tuesday, the groups, including ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, CISLAC, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, and Yiaga Africa, lamented that while government revenues have surged in recent years, citizens continue to face hunger, displacement, and declining public services.
The CSOs painted a grim national picture, citing widespread killings, banditry, and kidnapping, particularly across the North and Middle Belt, alongside rising inflation and abandoned farmlands contributing to food insecurity.
They also raised concerns over shrinking civic space, alleging harassment of journalists and activists, as well as growing political interference in democratic institutions and the judiciary.
“Politics has become Nigeria’s biggest business, even as the country suffers,” the statement read, noting that recent economic reforms, including subsidy removal and currency floatation, have increased government earnings without corresponding relief for citizens.
The coalition further warned that ahead of the 2027 general elections, the erosion of democratic values and influx of illicit funds into politics could undermine the country’s stability.
Among its demands, the group called for economic justice through job creation and social protection, strengthened security coordination, a crackdown on corruption, protection of civil liberties, and urgent reforms to restore judicial credibility and electoral integrity.
Describing the situation as a national emergency, the CSOs stressed that leadership must prioritise the welfare of citizens over political interests.
“The time for excuses is over; Nigeria must choose humanity over politics,” the statement concluded.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawgaEL5vKA9Y5XTFg0n