Obi says Nigeria faces deepening hardship as Tinubu declares era of prosperity

Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has used Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary to express concern over the country’s economic and social conditions, arguing that worsening poverty, insecurity, unemployment and hunger have made life increasingly difficult for citizens.

Obi made the remarks in his Independence Day message on Thursday, hours after President Bola Tinubu delivered his own national address in which he said the country had moved beyond the difficult phase of economic reforms and was entering an “age of prosperity.”

The former Anambra State governor criticised the All Progressives Congress-led administration, arguing that the challenges confronting Nigerians remained severe despite promises made in 2023.

“Despite the promises made by the APC government in 2023, our nation continues to face deepening challenges across virtually every critical sector of national life,” Obi said.

He cited poverty and the number of children out of school among the issues he said required urgent attention.

“Today, we stand before the world as a nation with the highest number of people living in poverty and hardship, over 140 million; with the highest number of out-of-school children, over 80 million; one of the most terrorised and insecure country with rampant banditry, kidnapping.”

Obi also raised concerns over food insecurity and the recent deaths of young Nigerians, while drawing attention to what he described as Nigeria’s poor infant and maternal mortality figures.

“Recently, we lost 37 young people in their productive age. Where millions struggle for hunger, we are now one of the hungrest country of the world, 109 moved to 115 in the recent times with food organisations saying that by the end of this year, 40 million will face extreme hunger.

“We’ve had one of the worst infant and maternal mortality rates in the world today.”

Against that backdrop, Obi argued that young Nigerians were facing particularly difficult circumstances, citing unemployment and drug prevalence as additional concerns.

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“Today, Nigeria is the worst place to be born. Our youth unemployment is the highest; over 35 million youths are unemployed, and we have one of the worst drug prevalences globally.”

Obi’s comments came on the same day President Tinubu presented a markedly different assessment of the country’s economic direction in his 66th Independence Day address.

Speaking under the theme “From Reforms to Prosperity,” Tinubu said the government’s economic reforms had laid the foundation for a new phase focused on prosperity, job creation and improved living standards.

“The emergency treatment is over. The foundation has been repaired,” Tinubu said, adding that “The central economic task before us has changed. For three years, our overriding purpose was to correct our nation’s course. Now, our purpose is simple: shared and widespread prosperity.”

The President acknowledged that millions of Nigerians were still struggling with food, education, healthcare and transportation costs, but said his administration’s objective was to ultimately defeat poverty through sustained economic growth and increased productive opportunities.

Tinubu also declared: “Nigeria has corrected its course. We have passed through our own Red Sea. This is not the time to look back.”

The contrasting Independence Day messages highlight the differing assessments of Nigeria’s current condition and economic trajectory offered by the two political figures.

While Obi focused on the hardships he said Nigerians were experiencing, Tinubu maintained that the difficult reform period had laid the groundwork for an era of broader prosperity.

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