A civil society organization, the Nigerian Working Group on Peace Building and Conflict Prevention, has issued a stark warning about the potential for widespread unrest if the socio-economic challenges in the country are not addressed. The group expressed deep concern over the economic and social crises that are pushing many Nigerians to the brink, urging President Bola Tinubu to acknowledge and respond to the pain felt by citizens.
In a statement released by the group’s coordinators, including National Coordinator Adewale Adeoye, and regional coordinators Taiwo Adeleye, Werinipre Digifa, Abuka Omobaba, Kudu Abubakar, Fred Onijika, and Lawan Idris, the organization highlighted the dire state of the nation following a tour of the six geo-political zones. They engaged with social and cultural bodies to mitigate potential ethnic and religious violence, which they fear could escalate given the current tensions.
The statement identified three primary issues facing Nigeria: the unresolved national question, pervasive corruption, and a breakdown of trust in public and private institutions. These challenges, the group argued, are the root causes of insecurity, violent ethnic clashes, and armed rebellion in some regions of the country.
The group emphasized that Nigeria’s crisis of ethnic identity, fueled by competition for resources and historical injustices, needs to be addressed through a new, people-driven constitution that includes ethnic minorities as real stakeholders. They criticized the current political and economic structures that perpetuate exclusion and marginalization.
Corruption was also cited as a significant barrier to progress, with the group calling for reforms to remove institutional obstacles that sustain graft. They highlighted the need for modesty among politically exposed persons and financial institutions and criticized the millions allocated to lawmakers as constituency allowances as an example of systemic corruption.
The group concluded by warning that Nigeria is at a crossroads, with inflation soaring to 34.2%, essentials of life becoming increasingly unaffordable, and food security under threat. They cautioned that if leaders fail to address these issues, the threat to democracy in Nigeria is not in doubt.
