A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has issued a warning that the country is “on the brink of collapse,” citing worsening insecurity, deepening poverty, and declining governance standards.
They called for urgent and coordinated action to reverse the trend. In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the groups, comprising over 50 civic organisations including ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Democracy and Development, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, and Yiaga Africa, described the current state of the nation as dire and unsustainable.
The organisations said they were speaking as non-partisan advocates for democracy, human rights, and good governance, urging leaders at all levels to act decisively to prevent further deterioration.
They painted a grim picture of everyday life across the country, where insecurity and economic hardship continue to weigh heavily on citizens.
According to the statement, displaced farmers in Zamfara now survive in poor conditions, urban workers in Abuja struggle with rising transport costs, and families in Lagos increasingly skip meals to meet basic expenses such as rent.
Despite these hardships, the coalition noted that government revenues have significantly increased in recent years, driven by policy measures such as fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate liberalisation, and rising public debt.
It observed that federal budgets in the last two years have exceeded N100 trillion, surpassing the combined budgets between 1999 and 2017, yet without corresponding improvements in living conditions.
The groups criticised what they described as a disconnect between rising public revenues and declining public welfare, warning that inequality continues to widen while basic services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure remain inadequate.
On security, the coalition said killings, abductions, and mass displacement have become routine across parts of the North and Middle Belt, with entire communities deserted.
It also highlighted the growing impact of rural banditry on food production, noting that abandoned farmlands and disrupted supply chains have contributed to rising inflation and looming food insecurity.
Kidnapping, the statement added, has evolved into a nationwide crisis affecting both rural and urban populations, with victims ranging from schoolchildren in Sokoto to commuters in the Federal Capital Territory.
The civil society organisations also raised concerns about what they described as a shrinking civic space, alleging increased harassment of journalists, threats against activists, and suppression of peaceful protests.
They warned that such trends undermine democratic principles and weaken public trust in governance.
Corruption and weak accountability mechanisms were identified as central drivers of Nigeria’s challenges.
The coalition said that despite repeated announcements of large public budgets, many roads remain in disrepair, hospitals are under-equipped, and schools are poorly funded.
Economic hardship, they noted, continues to disproportionately affect the poor, with inflation, unemployment, and currency instability worsening inequality.
The statement described poverty as one of the country’s most entrenched challenges.
Looking ahead, the groups warned of potential threats to Nigeria’s democracy, particularly as political actors begin positioning for the 2027 general elections.
They expressed concern over the influence of illicit financing in politics and the erosion of trust in electoral and governance systems.
The judiciary was also criticised, with the coalition alleging declining public confidence due to delays in justice delivery and perceived political interference in judicial processes.
In response to these challenges, the organisations outlined a series of demands aimed at restoring stability and public trust.
They called on the government to translate increased revenues into tangible improvements in citizens’ welfare through social protection programmes, job creation, accessible healthcare, and affordable food.
They also urged authorities to strengthen national security coordination, enhance intelligence gathering, and prioritise community protection measures.
On governance, the coalition demanded a renewed commitment to fighting corruption through swift prosecution of offenders and greater transparency in public spending.
It further called for reforms to safeguard democratic institutions, including measures to regulate political financing, strengthen electoral processes ahead of 2027, and ensure internal democracy within political parties.
The groups emphasised the need to protect civil liberties by safeguarding journalists, activists, and citizens’ rights to dissent, while also calling for urgent reforms to restore judicial independence and efficiency.
The coalition said Nigerians are bearing the cost of what it described as political excesses, warning that leadership must move beyond rhetoric to meaningful action.
“Every naira of public money must be felt in the life of the ordinary citizen; anything less is betrayal,” the statement said.
The organisations reaffirmed their solidarity with Nigerians facing hardship and pledged continued advocacy for justice, equity, and accountable governance, insisting that the country must prioritise the welfare of its citizens over political interests.
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