Dare Babalola
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised concerns about the alarming state of insecurity in Nigeria, describing it as an existential threat to the nation.
According to Obi in a statement he shared on X on Thursday titled, “Here is why we can’t stop talking about Insecurity”, the menace has affected every aspect of life in Nigeria, from businesses and farms to homes and communities.
“Insecurity is now at an existential level in Nigeria. It’s now extremely difficult to move forward without dealing with it,” Obi said.
He noted that the situation has led to a significant number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), with over 3.6 million Nigerians forced to flee their homes due to insecurity.
Obi emphasised that the economic cost of insecurity is staggering, citing the Global Terrorism Index, which ranks Nigeria among the 10 most terrorized nations in the world.
He added, “The economic cost of insecurity is staggering, investors are fleeing, local businesses are collapsing, tourism has become non-existent, farmers cannot farm, traders cannot trade or transport goods, and children cannot go to school.”
The former presidential candidate stressed that the safety of Nigerians must now be the top priority, and that a secure Nigeria will unlock the country’s enormous productivity potential.
“A secure Nigeria will not only give our people peace but also unlock the enormous productivity potential of our country. Without securing Nigeria, there can be no sustainable future,” Obi added.
He emphasised that investing in critical areas of development, including security, is essential to unlocking Nigeria’s productivity potential and ensuring a sustainable future.
“The safety of Nigerians must now come first,” Obi said, urging the government to take concrete steps to address insecurity and protect the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians.
