CUPP raises alarm over worsening poverty, insecurity in Nigeria, urges Tinubu to declare State of Emergency on two sectors

..As Obi laments worsening poverty, blames politicians

CYRIL MBAH, Abuja, with agency reports

The Coalition of the United Political Parties (CUPP) has issued a stern warning over the imminent crisis that may befall the nation fueled by the rising twin evils of insecurity, hunger and abject poverty.

The leadership of the CUPP, after reviewing the emergency situations and suffering brought on the people by the lingering problems, urged the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive actions to confront Nigeria’s escalating poverty and security problems before more damage befalls the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by CUPP National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, the coalition painted a very bleak picture of Nigeria’s economic, security and humanitarian landscape, pointing out that Nigeria now has the highest rate of child malnutrition in Africa, and the second highest globally.

While referring to a World Bank April 2025 report, Ameh stated that poverty has gripped 75.5% of Nigeria’s population, especially in rural areas, while 41.3% of urban residents also live below the poverty line.

“In total, over 120 million Nigerians—representing more than 54% of the population—are living in extreme poverty, a significant rise from 30.9% in 2018/19, amounting to 42 million additional impoverished people in just a few years.”

Ameh stated that the crisis has a particularly devastating effect on children, with 72.5% of Nigerians aged 0–14 classified as poor, adding that a stark education-related disparity: nearly 80% of Nigerians without formal education live in poverty, compared to just 25.4% of those with tertiary education.

According to Ameh, who blamed the worsening situation on deep-rooted structural problems, including Nigeria’s over dependence on oil exports, rampant inflation, inadequate job creation outside agriculture, chronic under-investment in education and infrastructure also contributed significantly.

Ameh criticized what he called the government’s inadequate and dismissive response to critical national issues, warning that continued neglect of these systemic problems would only deepen the crisis, just as he called the World Bank findings a wake-up call and stressed the need for targeted interventions, especially in rural areas where access to healthcare, education, and clean water remained scarce.

“Urban poverty, although less severe, is also a serious concern,” he stated and while citing the pressures of rapid urbanization and widening inequality, he warned that “poverty poses a long-term threat to national development, potentially entrenching intergenerational cycles of deprivation and stunting future growth.”

The CUPP concluded by urging the Federal Government to declare Nigeria’s poverty and security crisis a national emergency requiring urgent, unified action.

The group also called on leaders to implement comprehensive reforms, prioritize the welfare of the people especially children, and harness the country’s intellectual capital to restore hope, dignity, and prosperity to millions of deprived citizens.

Incidentally the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has decried the worsening state of governance in Nigeria.
He said workers are not cared for while government officials and politicians are busy looting public funds.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Godfrey Okoye School of Nursing Sciences in Enugu, where he donated N20 million to support the school, Obi expressed his disappointment with the country’s leadership, citing reports from the World Bank and United Nations Children’s Fund, that highlight the worsening poverty and malnutrition situation in Nigeria.

“It is not easy to be working in our country today, because those who work are not cared for, those who don’t work, which are the government officials and politicians, are busy stealing up the money,” he said.

He underscored the need for a change in governance, adding that the country’s resources should be used to benefit the people, not just a select few.

“We’ve turned governance into a crime scene. Instead of using the resources to do the right thing, we’re using it to do the wrong things,” he said.

The former governor of Anambra State also highlighted the critical shortage of nurses in Nigeria, citing a demand of 1.2 million nurses against less than 200,000 registered nurses.

He urged students of the College of Nursing Sciences to take their studies seriously, adding that the world needs nurses and Nigeria, particularly needs them to staff community hospitals and village hospitals.

He commended the work of volunteer agencies, particularly the church, in supporting projects like the teaching hospital.
“What you people are doing is what we are supposed to be doing in government.

That’s what the job of the government is,” he said.
He stressed the need for a shift in governance priorities, with a focus on addressing the country’s pressing challenges, including poverty, malnutrition, and healthcare.

In his remark, the Proprietor and Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga, thanked Obi for his charity, assuring him of their continued prayers for him.

“We are praying for you as I said why praying – not everybody loves what is right, not everybody likes trying to look into the plight of the poor people but you have done it. We are happy that you are here and you are associating with us. God will continue to protect you. We are happy this is not the only thing you are doing in Enugu, there are other areas, other hospitals you have been helping.

“What we are praying is that your dream of Nigeria must come through, and God will make it possible that somebody who can handle that dream will take over. That is why I want to talk prophetically – we are not into politics here, but the truth has to be said, things are not working out well in our country.

We will continue to remember you in prayer,” he said.