The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has decried the worsening insecurity, poverty and economic hardship confronting Nigerians, saying more than 140 million citizens are living in poverty.
Obi made the remarks in his Independence Day message to Nigerians on Thursday, marking the country’s 66th anniversary of independence.
In his message titled “Nigeria at 66: Looking Back, Looking Forward”, the former Anambra State governor said the anniversary should go beyond celebration, urging Nigerians to use the occasion for sober reflection on the country’s development trajectory and whether it is moving towards the vision of its founding fathers.
He said Nigeria remains richly endowed with human and natural resources, agricultural potential and other advantages, but has struggled to translate these resources into improved living standards, productivity, security and shared prosperity.
According to him, the country was currently facing serious challenges across virtually every critical sector despite the promises made by the APC-led Federal Government in 2023.
Obi listed widespread poverty and hardship, a large population of out-of-school children, insecurity, terrorism, banditry and kidnapping among the major challenges confronting the country.
He also cited hunger and food insecurity, high infant and maternal mortality, youth unemployment and underemployment, drug abuse and low life expectancy as indicators of Nigeria’s development crisis.
“Today we stand before the world as a nation with an extraordinarily large population living in poverty and severe hardship; over 140 million,” Obi said.
He added that Nigeria had “over 18 million” out-of-school children, while more than 35 million young Nigerians were unemployed or underemployed.
On food insecurity, the NDC presidential candidate said more than 40 million Nigerians could face extreme hunger by the end of 2026.
He further expressed concern over drug abuse among young Nigerians, putting the rate at 14 per cent, compared with a global average of six per cent.
Obi also cited Nigeria’s life expectancy of about 54 years against a global average of 74 years, adding that the country’s maternal and infant mortality figures are unacceptably high.
He said the continuing security crisis was equally devastating, noting that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping were still threatening lives and livelihoods across the country.
Obi recalled his recent two-day visit to Sokoto State with his running mate and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they held consultations with residents on insecurity, poverty, education, youth unemployment and drug abuse.
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He said their visit to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Ramin Kura in Sokoto metropolis exposed the severity of the humanitarian crisis.
“What we saw was deeply troubling. Thousands of women and children live in deplorable conditions, displaced from their homes and deprived of the basic necessities of life,” he said.
According to him, many of the children in the camp lacked access to education, while mothers and children had limited access to basic healthcare.
“These are Nigerians who should be living in their communities, going to school, farming their land, conducting their businesses and contributing to the economy. Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country,” Obi said.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election said the situation required Nigerians to undertake an honest assessment of the country’s condition and determine how to move from its current position to the desired future.
He posed three fundamental questions for national planning: “Where are we today? Where do we want to be? How do we get from where we are to where we want to be?”
Obi argued that Nigeria’s challenges could not be attributed to a lack of resources, saying the country’s fundamental problem was its failure to convert its resources into human development and shared prosperity.
“Our greatest problem is not a lack of resources; it is the failure to convert our enormous resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to use the Independence anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the country’s past, confront its present challenges and work towards building a nation that delivers security, opportunity and a better quality of life for its citizens.
He called for renewed patriotism and recognition of the sacrifices made by Nigeria’s founding fathers and others who contributed to the country’s survival and development.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X