By Abdullahi Alhassan
Kaduna, Nigeria, April 07,2026(Series News Online) - A coalition of 52 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has sounded the alarm over the alarming rate of insecurity, poverty, and moral decay in the country, calling for responsible leadership and collective action to save the nation from total collapse.
In a scathing statement, the group lamented that politicians are engaging in empty rhetoric while citizens count their losses. "Politics has become Nigeria's biggest business, even as the country suffers," the statement read. The CSOs highlighted the plight of displaced farmers in Zamfara, a teacher struggling to make ends meet in Abuja, and families skipping meals to pay rent in Lagos.
Despite record revenues and allocations, the group noted that federal, state, and local governments seem oblivious to the suffering of the people. "The removal of subsidies, floating of the naira, and increase in public debt have significantly boosted government revenue, with federal budgets in the last two years surpassing ₦100 trillion, exceeding the total of all budgets from 1999 to 2017," the statement noted.
However, the CSOs lamented that despite the huge allocations, nothing seems to have improved, with public services faltering, inequality growing, and ordinary citizens becoming poorer while politicians get richer. "Accountability has been replaced by excuses," the group stated.
The statement highlighted the alarming rate of insecurity, with killings, abductions, and displacement becoming commonplace. "Rural banditry has devastated livelihoods, disrupted food supplies, and caused inflation to rise above 15%, with hunger looming over millions of homes," the CSOs noted.
The group also decried the growing trend of kidnapping, with schoolchildren in Sokoto and commuters in Abuja falling prey to kidnappers, and paying ransom has become a norm. "Journalists face harassment, activists face threats, and peaceful protesters are silenced," the CSOs added.
The CSOs called for urgent action from the government, demanding economic justice, security, and humanity. "We urge the government to convert record revenues into tangible improvements, including social protection, job creation, accessible healthcare, and affordable food," said the group.
The statement concluded: "Nigerians are paying the price of political excesses. Leadership cannot continue politicking while the nation bleeds. Every Naira of public money must be felt in the life of the ordinary citizen; anything less is betrayal. We stand with every Nigerian facing hunger, insecurity, and hopelessness. We stand for justice, equity, and good governance. The time for excuses is over; Nigeria must choose humanity over politics."
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