NOW THAT THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS ARE ON…
Who will answer Nigeria’s national question? asks SAMUEL AKPOBOME OROVWUJE Nigeria is once again entering the familiar theatre of political campaigns. Slogans will multiply, manifestos will be launched, rallies will
Nigeria is once again preparing for its political campaigns, with slogans, manifestos and rallies taking center stage. However, the real question that should guide the nation's discourse is: how will the economic crisis impact the average Nigerian? The World Bank reports that poverty rates have risen from 61% in 2024 to 63% in 2025, affecting approximately 140 million Nigerians.
This crisis is further exacerbated by escalating food prices, with food inflation soaring to 20.31% in July 2026. While macroeconomic indicators may show improvement, the question remains: when will these gains translate into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens? Politicians must answer this by providing tangible, measurable solutions to issues such as employment, inflation, education, healthcare, agriculture and poverty reduction.
Voters deserve a clear scorecard outlining the promises made and the results achieved. Simply counting infrastructure projects or announcing policy changes is insufficient. The true test of governance lies in the impact on the lives of ordinary Nigerians - can they afford food, stay in school, find meaningful work, and maintain a decent standard of living?
The reforms implemented since 2023 have come with significant short-term costs to households. The political discourse should shift from debating the merits of reforms to addressing how they protect vulnerable citizens and foster economic opportunities. Only when government activities are measured against their real-world impact on citizens will Nigeria's political landscape truly improve.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
