CSOs Demand Urgent Action as Nigerians Face Hunger, Fear, Uncertainty

CSOs Demand Urgent Action as Nigerians Face Hunger, Fear, Uncertainty

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

A coalition of 52 civil society organisations has called for an urgent change in governance and policy direction, warning that millions of Nigerians are grappling with deepening hunger, fear and uncertainty amid worsening economic and security conditions.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the groups said the country is fast approaching a breaking point, as citizens continue to bear the brunt of rising poverty, insecurity and what they described as a failure of leadership at all levels of government.

“Nigeria is on the brink of collapse,” the organisations said, stressing that the situation requires immediate and decisive action. “We issue this urgent plea for responsible leadership and collective action to save our nation from escalating insecurity, rising poverty, and moral decay in public life.”

The CSOs painted a grim picture of daily realities across the country, noting that while citizens struggle to survive, political actors remain consumed by rhetoric and power contests.

“Across the country, citizens count losses while politicians trade rhetoric,” the statement read, highlighting the plight of displaced farmers in Zamfara, urban workers burdened by high transport costs in Abuja, and families in Lagos forced to skip meals to meet basic needs.

Despite increased government revenues driven by recent economic reforms, the coalition said there has been little improvement in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“In just the last two years, federal budgets have surpassed ₦100 trillion, exceeding the total of all budgets from 1999 to 2017. Nigerians see the numbers, but nothing has improved,” the groups stated. “Public services falter, inequality grows, and ordinary citizens become poorer while politicians get richer.”

The organisations raised concerns over persistent insecurity, noting that killings, abductions and mass displacement have become widespread, particularly in parts of the North and Middle Belt.

They described kidnapping as a growing national crisis, warning that paying ransom has replaced access to safety, while also linking rural banditry to food shortages and rising inflation.

The statement further decried what it termed a shrinking civic space, alleging that journalists and activists face increasing harassment and intimidation.

“A democracy that fears its citizens is already in decline,” the coalition said.

The CSOs also warned of looming threats to Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing political actors of focusing on succession battles instead of governance.

They cautioned that the erosion of trust in institutions, including the judiciary, could further destabilise the country if not urgently addressed.

“Justice delayed or influenced is justice denied,” the statement added, pointing to concerns over political interference in the courts.

Calling for immediate reforms, the organisations urged government to translate rising revenues into tangible benefits for citizens through job creation, social protection programmes, improved healthcare and access to affordable food.

“Nigerians deserve relief, justice, and dignity, not just slogans,” they said.

They also demanded stronger coordination in tackling insecurity, decisive action against corruption, protection of civil liberties, and comprehensive electoral reforms ahead of 2027.

The coalition warned that continued inaction could have dire consequences for the country.

“Every Naira of public money must be felt in the life of the ordinary citizen; anything less is betrayal,” the statement read. “The time for excuses is over; Nigeria must choose humanity over politics.”

The statement was jointly signed by 52 CSOs including Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Yiaga Africa, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), among others.