Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day: ActionAid Nigeria Demands Bold Leadership to Tackle Economic Crisis and Electoral Failures, as Millions of Citizens Remain Trapped in Hardship

Today, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Despite the government’s claims of recovery and growth, citizens are buckling under the weight of inflation, fuel price hikes, and austerity measures that disproportionately affect women, girls, and vulnerable communities. The data tells a grim story: In 1960, only 15% of the population lived in poverty; today, 63% of Nigerians are trapped in economic hardship. These figures reflect a deepening crisis that contradicts the government’s optimistic outlook.

Nigeria’s current trajectory reveals an alarming trend: austerity measures and economic policies that benefit the few while neglecting the many. The removal of the fuel subsidy, for example, has compounded the daily struggles of millions. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Inflation reached 32.15% in August 2024, while food prices soared by 37.52%. For many Nigerian households, particularly those led by women, this is not just an inconvenience, it’s a battle for survival. A bag of rice, now priced at ₦60,000, has become a luxury, and the cost of essential goods like cooking gas has surged by over 60% in just one year.

Since the removal of the fuel subsidy, the cost of petrol has jumped by over 200%, exacerbating the cost of transportation, food, and basic. Austerity measures, like these, have only deepened the gender inequality gap and expanded the poverty rate. For example, transportation costs have surged by over 300%, making commuting a daily struggle for millions according to media reports. According to ActionAid’s research, nearly 133 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line, 60% of whom are women. As prices rise, Families across the country are making heartbreaking decisions daily: choosing between feeding their children or sending them to school, between affording rent or paying for healthcare. Malnutrition among children has risen, with 2.5 million Nigerian children at risk of severe acute malnutrition in 2024, according to UNICEF.

The Federal Government’s austerity policies, while purportedly aimed at reducing public spending, have crippled critical sectors like healthcare, education, and social protection. Underfunded healthcare facilities, neglected schools, and soaring unemployment rates show the reality of a government more focused on fiscal tightening than on the well-being of its citizens. The Labour Force Statistics shows the national unemployment rate hit 37.7% in the second quarter of 2024, with youth unemployment at a staggering 45%. Women and girls, particularly from low-income families, continue to bear the brunt of these cuts, with little hope for relief or recovery.

Compounding the economic crisis is the growing disappointment with Nigeria's electoral process. The most recent elections were marred by widespread irregularities, voter suppression, and blatant disregard for the people's will. Nigerians are suffering, yet their right to elect the leaders they want is continually undermined. We cannot ignore the injustice done to the electorate, who face not only economic chains but also the erosion of their political voice. The dream of independence includes the freedom to choose leadership a dream that remains unrealized for many citizens

In a country that fought for freedom and self-determination, Nigerians still face the double burden of economic hardship and electoral injustice. The ongoing political manipulation and erosion of electoral integrity leave citizens questioning whether their independence truly means freedom. There is a clear path forward, but it requires urgent, decisive action from our leaders. Nigeria’s independence was built on the principles of equality, opportunity, and resilience. It is time to rekindle that spirit for the sake of our women, girls, and vulnerable communities.

Nigeria’s leaders cannot afford to be complacent in the face of this unfolding humanitarian crisis; Therefore, we call on the government to take the following immediate actions:

• A Revise Government Austerity Measures must be considered. The current economic policies are crushing Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable. The government must immediately reverse these harmful austerity measures and reallocate resources to critical sectors like healthcare, education, and social protection. Failure to act now will plunge the country into an irreversible humanitarian catastrophe.
• An urgent electoral reform is needed. Nigerians cannot be silenced any longer. The government must immediately take drastic measures to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. Electoral rights need to be restored and protected, or the very foundation of our democracy will crumble, leaving the country in chaos. Security agencies must be impartial, and the judiciary must deliver swift, evidence-based electoral verdicts while holding officials accountable for misconduct.
• Address the Fuel Crisis: The removal of the fuel subsidy has unleashed unprecedented hardship on Nigerians. The government must immediately implement alternative solutions to stabilise fuel prices or face nationwide unrest as the burden becomes too heavy for citizens to bear.
• Inflation Control Measures: The government must enact aggressive monetary and fiscal policies to control skyrocketing prices, while collaborating with private sector leaders to stabilise supply chains and ramp up domestic production. Anything short of this will lead to deeper societal collapse. 
• Social Protection Programs: Strengthen and expand social protection programs to reach the most vulnerable, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind. This includes cash transfers, food distribution, and targeted subsidies for essential goods. Women, children, and vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of this economic disaster, we demand immediate action now to prevent further devastation.
• Unemployment is reaching catastrophic levels, particularly among the youth. The government must make job creation its highest priority, investing immediately in infrastructure, SMEs, and tech-driven industries to give hope to the millions of young Nigerians who are slipping into despair. 

As Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independence Day, it is clear that true independence remains elusive for millions. Our leaders must confront the harsh realities, not through hollow promises or political rhetoric, but through decisive, compassionate, and equitable action. The time for complacency is over. Nigeria’s survival depends on bold leadership that prioritises the needs of its people over political interests. Only then can we truly celebrate freedom from hunger, poverty, and electoral injustice.

Thank you.

Signed: Andrew Mamedu, 

Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria

Editors' notes 

ActionAid Nigeria is a national non-governmental, non-partisan, non-religious, civil society organisation, and an affiliate member of the ActionAid International Federation with presence in 45 countries. It works in solidarity with people living in poverty and exclusion to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication towards achieving a just, equitable and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression. 

CONTACT: Oluwakemi Akinremi-Segun - Communications Coordinator | ActionAid Nigeria Tel: +234(0)8092076904 | Email: Oluwakemi.AkinremiSe@actionaid.org | Info.nigeria@actionaid.org | Website: nigeria.actionaid.org| Facebook: ActionAid Nigeria Twitter: @ActionAidNG