Nigeria at a Crossroads: Hunger, Insecurity, and the Fading Promise of Democracy
Updated on : Friday, 08 August, 2025
Released on: Monday, 04 August, 2025
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Nigeria is hungry—literally and figuratively. While the ruling party continues to issue self-congratulatory statements about growth, the harsh reality on the ground is one of mounting poverty, insecurity, democratic erosion, and widespread public disillusionment. As we move closer to 2027, the question remains: growth for whom?
The BOOT Party believes Nigeria deserves better—and urgently.
HUNGER AND INSECURITY: THE HUMAN AND ECONOMIC TOLL
Hunger is no longer confined to the poorest in our society—it now afflicts millions of employed Nigerians who earn too little to meet basic needs.
Despite official narratives of economic progress, many families survive hand-to-mouth. The World Food Programme, in its November 2024 report, projected that by 2025, over 33 million Nigerians will be food insecure due to inflation and low food production. Some of them will face starvation.
This humanitarian crisis demands more than prayer and rhetoric. It requires bold leadership, strategic planning, and people-first policies—qualities that are increasingly absent in the current administration.
Northern Nigeria, the country's agricultural heartland, has been devastated by insecurity. Armed banditry and violent farmer-herder conflicts have displaced tens of thousands of households. In Kaduna alone, over 20,000 households were displaced by August 2024, according to IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix.
The result? A significant drop in farm output across northern states. These local disruptions now echo nationwide, as food prices in Lagos and other urban centres continue to soar.
Government response? The Ministry of Agriculture, in a recent bulletin, admitted failure—and resorted to prayers against famine. Nigerians need action, not helplessness.
Economic reform without social protection is a death sentence. Fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate unification, and new VAT regulations were touted as necessary reforms. In principle, they are. But reform without support is cruelty disguised as policy. Nigeria saved ₦3.2 trillion from fuel subsidies—but less than ₦400 billion has gone toward direct support for struggling households.
Compare this with how the U.S. and U.K. supported citizens during COVID-19: with cash transfers, small business grants, and targeted relief. We can and must do the same—coordinating with state governments to ensure no Nigerian is left behind.
DEMOCRACY IN PERIL: SILENCING DISSENT AND POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM
Our democracy is on trial. A genuine democracy thrives on the free expression of dissent. Any effort—be it legal harassment of critics or violent disruption of peaceful protests—that muzzles the opposition is an affront to democratic principles.
In March 2025, Rivers State security forces again unleashed tear gas and batons on a peaceful women's rally demanding accountable governance after their duly elected governor was unconstitutionally removed, wounding dozens. The declaration of a "state of emergency" in Rivers has become a thinly veiled tool for dismantling elected institutions. Even the courts have joined in: by shifting lawsuits challenging the military-style replacement of the governor from Port Harcourt and Yenagoa to Abuja, the Federal High Court has saddled appellants with crippling travel costs and legal fees, effectively gagging dissent within the judiciary itself.
Mr. President, you should be reminded— from the lofty heights of democratic ideals to the grassroots—that future generations will not show the same restraint you afforded General (Rtd.) Ibrahim Babangida during the notorious "book launch." Democracy's guardians cannot be selectively merciful.
The newly formed coalition—dubbed the "Lazarus League"—lacks the unifying vision needed for genuine revival. Ironically, several of its leading figures have served in previous administrations that created the Nigeria of today that provided close to nothing for social-welfare. Meanwhile, the ruling party exploits every opportunity to hollow out its rivals: lawmakers desert opposition benches not out of conviction but to secure their own financial lifelines and political survival ahead of 2027. President Tinubu even boasted that he welcomes "anyone jumping from a sinking boat" into the APC—while party operatives puncture the PDP's and other parties' vessels, leaving opposition members, lawmakers, and governors adrift without support. In this scramble for survival, principle is sacrificed and accountability is further eroded as politicians abandon the mandates that once bound them to the people.
REBUILDING TRUST: ELECTORAL INTEGRITY AND PUBLIC-FUNDING REFORM
Regardless of whether they are appointed by the executive, the legislature, or both, the INEC chair must always put Nigeria's interests above any patron's agenda. True electoral credibility hinges on the commission's independence. Under Professor Mahmoud, we've seen significant reforms—from the rollout of BVAS in the 2023 polls to improved result verification—yet far more remains to be done. The BOOT Party's post-election report (submitted to INEC) pinpointed key gaps, and we are encouraged that some of our recommendations have already been adopted. Critically, INEC's leadership must continue to build on this momentum, ensuring every future election is free, fair, and beyond reproach.
The BOOT Party propose the following:
1. Capturing a digital image of the official result at each polling unit via BVAS or similar device.
2. Embedding metadata—GPS coordinates, date and time stamps, device identifiers—directly into the image.
3. Prohibiting any editing or manipulation of these images.
4. Adhering to ISO 23081 standards for metadata in electronic transactions.
Election laws must expressly prohibit and criminalise any government agency from manipulating policies to influence electoral outcomes. No ministry or department should roll out measures within 12 months of a general election that materially impact citizens' lives—take, for example, the sudden 2022 naira-note redesign. Rather than curbing illicit cash, that ill-timed currency swap sparked banking chaos and stoked vote-buying fears ahead of the February 2023 polls. INEC must be empowered to seek immediate injunctions against such tactics, and the heads of erring agencies should face personal accountability for any breach.
Online activism must translate into real-world participation. Voter turnout in the 2023 presidential election dropped to a shameful 29%, from 35% in 2019. It's time to consider compulsory voting, as practiced in Australia, to deepen democratic engagement.
If you can debate politics online, you should cast a ballot. Our democracy must reflect the voices of the many, not just the mobilized few.
When godfathers bankroll campaigns, accountability evaporates. Strong, principled parties need funding—not godfathers.
The BOOT Party proposes a public-funding framework:
• Annual disbursements based on party performance (vote share, youth and women's representation).
• Mandatory external audits published on INEC's website.
• Immediate suspension of funds for parties failing to file audited accounts within three months of year-end.
The BOOT Party advocates public funding for political parties, tied to strict conditions: annual audits, updated manifestos, and transparent INEC reporting. Only parties that demonstrate financial discipline should access these funds.
STATE CREATION
Creating additional states in Nigeria would bring government closer to citizens through leaner, more responsive administrations; address ethno-regional marginalization by giving minorities stronger voices in federal allocations; stimulate economic growth and job creation via new civil service structures, infrastructure spending, and development projects; and deepen federalism by distributing political and fiscal authority more evenly. However, state-creation exercise must be driven by clear criteria—population thresholds, economic viability studies, and genuine local consent—to ensure each new state can stand on its own and deliver real dividends to its people.
Nigeria stands at a pivotal crossroads. We can either continue down a path of elite consolidation and public misery—or chart a new course toward dignity, justice, and inclusion. The BOOT Party is not here to recycle the past. We are here to challenge it, dismantle it, and replace it with something better.
We urge every Nigerian to join us:
✔ Demand real solutions to hunger and insecurity.
✔ Protect our democracy from those who undermine it.
✔ Vote—don't just tweet.
✔ Hold every leader to account, including us.
2027 will not save us unless we save ourselves first. Let's BOOT Nigeria forward.
Yours sincerely,
Sonny Adenuga
National Chairman
Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) Party
@SonnyAdenuga
The BOOT Party is a cooperative-like political leadership system.
@TheBOOTParty
Send Feedback
WhatsApp: +234-705-774-9595
Signing up is free.
Join BOOT Party and Get Involved!
Download BOOT Party App to
Vote in BOOT Party Election Primaries
Donate Because Nigeria Matters
Nigeria at a Crossroads: Hunger, Insecurity, and the Fading Promise of Democracy
Updated on : Friday, 08 August, 2025
Released on: Monday, 04 August, 2025
Read (794) |
Join BOOT Party
Tweet #VoteBOOTParty
Nigeria is hungry—literally and figuratively. While the ruling party continues to issue self-congratulatory statements about growth, the harsh reality on the ground is one of mounting poverty, insecurity, democratic erosion, and widespread public disillusionment. As we move closer to 2027, the question remains: growth for whom?
The BOOT Party believes Nigeria deserves better—and urgently.
HUNGER AND INSECURITY: THE HUMAN AND ECONOMIC TOLL
Hunger is no longer confined to the poorest in our society—it now afflicts millions of employed Nigerians who earn too little to meet basic needs.
Despite official narratives of economic progress, many families survive hand-to-mouth. The World Food Programme, in its November 2024 report, projected that by 2025, over 33 million Nigerians will be food insecure due to inflation and low food production. Some of them will face starvation.
This humanitarian crisis demands more than prayer and rhetoric. It requires bold leadership, strategic planning, and people-first policies—qualities that are increasingly absent in the current administration.
Northern Nigeria, the country's agricultural heartland, has been devastated by insecurity. Armed banditry and violent farmer-herder conflicts have displaced tens of thousands of households. In Kaduna alone, over 20,000 households were displaced by August 2024, according to IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix.
The result? A significant drop in farm output across northern states. These local disruptions now echo nationwide, as food prices in Lagos and other urban centres continue to soar.
Government response? The Ministry of Agriculture, in a recent bulletin, admitted failure—and resorted to prayers against famine. Nigerians need action, not helplessness.
Economic reform without social protection is a death sentence. Fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate unification, and new VAT regulations were touted as necessary reforms. In principle, they are. But reform without support is cruelty disguised as policy. Nigeria saved ₦3.2 trillion from fuel subsidies—but less than ₦400 billion has gone toward direct support for struggling households.
Compare this with how the U.S. and U.K. supported citizens during COVID-19: with cash transfers, small business grants, and targeted relief. We can and must do the same—coordinating with state governments to ensure no Nigerian is left behind.
DEMOCRACY IN PERIL: SILENCING DISSENT AND POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM
Our democracy is on trial. A genuine democracy thrives on the free expression of dissent. Any effort—be it legal harassment of critics or violent disruption of peaceful protests—that muzzles the opposition is an affront to democratic principles.
In March 2025, Rivers State security forces again unleashed tear gas and batons on a peaceful women's rally demanding accountable governance after their duly elected governor was unconstitutionally removed, wounding dozens. The declaration of a "state of emergency" in Rivers has become a thinly veiled tool for dismantling elected institutions. Even the courts have joined in: by shifting lawsuits challenging the military-style replacement of the governor from Port Harcourt and Yenagoa to Abuja, the Federal High Court has saddled appellants with crippling travel costs and legal fees, effectively gagging dissent within the judiciary itself.
Mr. President, you should be reminded— from the lofty heights of democratic ideals to the grassroots—that future generations will not show the same restraint you afforded General (Rtd.) Ibrahim Babangida during the notorious "book launch." Democracy's guardians cannot be selectively merciful.
The newly formed coalition—dubbed the "Lazarus League"—lacks the unifying vision needed for genuine revival. Ironically, several of its leading figures have served in previous administrations that created the Nigeria of today that provided close to nothing for social-welfare. Meanwhile, the ruling party exploits every opportunity to hollow out its rivals: lawmakers desert opposition benches not out of conviction but to secure their own financial lifelines and political survival ahead of 2027. President Tinubu even boasted that he welcomes "anyone jumping from a sinking boat" into the APC—while party operatives puncture the PDP's and other parties' vessels, leaving opposition members, lawmakers, and governors adrift without support. In this scramble for survival, principle is sacrificed and accountability is further eroded as politicians abandon the mandates that once bound them to the people.
REBUILDING TRUST: ELECTORAL INTEGRITY AND PUBLIC-FUNDING REFORM
Regardless of whether they are appointed by the executive, the legislature, or both, the INEC chair must always put Nigeria's interests above any patron's agenda. True electoral credibility hinges on the commission's independence. Under Professor Mahmoud, we've seen significant reforms—from the rollout of BVAS in the 2023 polls to improved result verification—yet far more remains to be done. The BOOT Party's post-election report (submitted to INEC) pinpointed key gaps, and we are encouraged that some of our recommendations have already been adopted. Critically, INEC's leadership must continue to build on this momentum, ensuring every future election is free, fair, and beyond reproach.
The BOOT Party propose the following:
1. Capturing a digital image of the official result at each polling unit via BVAS or similar device.
2. Embedding metadata—GPS coordinates, date and time stamps, device identifiers—directly into the image.
3. Prohibiting any editing or manipulation of these images.
4. Adhering to ISO 23081 standards for metadata in electronic transactions.
Election laws must expressly prohibit and criminalise any government agency from manipulating policies to influence electoral outcomes. No ministry or department should roll out measures within 12 months of a general election that materially impact citizens' lives—take, for example, the sudden 2022 naira-note redesign. Rather than curbing illicit cash, that ill-timed currency swap sparked banking chaos and stoked vote-buying fears ahead of the February 2023 polls. INEC must be empowered to seek immediate injunctions against such tactics, and the heads of erring agencies should face personal accountability for any breach.
Online activism must translate into real-world participation. Voter turnout in the 2023 presidential election dropped to a shameful 29%, from 35% in 2019. It's time to consider compulsory voting, as practiced in Australia, to deepen democratic engagement.
If you can debate politics online, you should cast a ballot. Our democracy must reflect the voices of the many, not just the mobilized few.
When godfathers bankroll campaigns, accountability evaporates. Strong, principled parties need funding—not godfathers.
The BOOT Party proposes a public-funding framework:
• Annual disbursements based on party performance (vote share, youth and women's representation).
• Mandatory external audits published on INEC's website.
• Immediate suspension of funds for parties failing to file audited accounts within three months of year-end.
The BOOT Party advocates public funding for political parties, tied to strict conditions: annual audits, updated manifestos, and transparent INEC reporting. Only parties that demonstrate financial discipline should access these funds.
STATE CREATION
Creating additional states in Nigeria would bring government closer to citizens through leaner, more responsive administrations; address ethno-regional marginalization by giving minorities stronger voices in federal allocations; stimulate economic growth and job creation via new civil service structures, infrastructure spending, and development projects; and deepen federalism by distributing political and fiscal authority more evenly. However, state-creation exercise must be driven by clear criteria—population thresholds, economic viability studies, and genuine local consent—to ensure each new state can stand on its own and deliver real dividends to its people.
Nigeria stands at a pivotal crossroads. We can either continue down a path of elite consolidation and public misery—or chart a new course toward dignity, justice, and inclusion. The BOOT Party is not here to recycle the past. We are here to challenge it, dismantle it, and replace it with something better.
We urge every Nigerian to join us:
✔ Demand real solutions to hunger and insecurity.
✔ Protect our democracy from those who undermine it.
✔ Vote—don't just tweet.
✔ Hold every leader to account, including us.
2027 will not save us unless we save ourselves first. Let's BOOT Nigeria forward.
Yours sincerely,
Sonny Adenuga
National Chairman
Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) Party
@SonnyAdenuga
The BOOT Party is a cooperative-like political leadership system.
@TheBOOTParty
Send Feedback
WhatsApp: +234-705-774-9595
Signing up is free.
Join BOOT Party and Get Involved!
Download BOOT Party App to
Vote in BOOT Party Election Primaries
Donate Because Nigeria Matters
