Nigerian CSOs Warn Nation 'On Brink of Collapse'

A coalition of 52 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has issued a stark warning that Nigeria is 'on the brink of collapse' due to worsening security, economic hardship, and governance challenges. The CSOs, including ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International, BudgIT, Centre for Democracy and Development, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, and Yiaga Africa, highlighted escalating insecurity, rising poverty, and moral decay in public life. They noted that despite significant increases in government revenues from reforms like fuel subsidy removal and naira floating, public services are declining, inequality is worsening, and citizens face severe hardship. The coalition identified eight major areas of concern: rising insecurity, rural banditry's impact on agriculture, a nationwide kidnapping epidemic, shrinking civic space, persistent corruption, deepening economic hardship, threats to democracy, and declining judicial credibility. They demanded immediate and concrete actions from the government, including translating revenues into tangible benefits for citizens, improved security coordination, decisive action against corruption, electoral reforms, protection of fundamental rights, and judicial reforms. The CSOs emphasized that Nigerians deserve 'relief, justice, and dignity, not just slogans,' warning that continued political inaction could worsen the country's situation.