Utomi warns poverty, hunger threaten Nigeria’s stability

Professor Pat Utomi has cautioned that soaring poverty, hunger, insecurity, and dwindling trust in government institutions are putting Nigeria's stability at risk. Delivering a speech in Lagos to journalists, Utomi urged citizens to safeguard democratic values before the 2027 elections. The Nigerian economy is grappling with immense hardship, as millions suffer from food insecurity and struggle to meet basic needs, according to the World Bank and IMF reports.

Utomi highlighted the deteriorating infrastructure, particularly the Benin-Asaba section of the Lagos-Ibadan-Onitsha highway, which has transformed from a one-hour and ten-minute drive to over three hours. The professor also expressed concerns over declining confidence in key institutions such as the judiciary, police, EFCC, and INEC.

Utomi lamented the surge in citizens seeking financial aid, with previously stable individuals now reaching out for help. He accused political leaders of exploiting ethnic and religious divisions rather than addressing the economic woes. Utomi stressed the importance of citizens defending democratic institutions and demanding accountability from public officials.

In 2027 elections, he urged INEC to adhere to the Electoral Act's continuous voter registration and called on civil society to pressure relevant institutions to prevent disenfranchisement. Meanwhile, Wale Okunniyi, a pro-democracy campaigner, warned that Nigeria is drifting towards one-man rule due to the concentration of powers in the Presidency and the weakening of opposition parties.

Okunniyi stressed the need for a constitution restructuring to enhance democratic governance and decentralize power.