By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
A new report by the Big Tent coalition, a political reform group, reveals that rural poverty in Nigeria has deteriorated to levels worse than at independence in 1960, with 75% of rural Nigerians trapped in chronic poverty.
The study, led by political economist Prof. Pat Utomi, highlights severe hunger, insecurity, and failing infrastructure, accusing the political class of prioritizing “power and propaganda over purpose.”
“Walk the streets of Ibadan or Maiduguri, and you’ll see the new destitution,” the 14-page report stated. It noted that 30 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity, with rural resilience destroyed by neglect and violence.
The report condemned government spending on projects like new presidential jets and the Lagos-Calabar highway while millions suffer.
It warned of collapsing trust in leadership, citing a grassroots survey showing citizens are “angry and hungry.”
Agriculture, once Nigeria’s economic backbone, now suffers a N1.04 trillion trade deficit, with farmers crippled by insecurity and poor policies.
The coalition urged urgent reforms, including university-led farming programs and regional industrialization.
With Nigeria’s debt rising and corruption unchecked, the Big Tent called for digitized elections and balanced budget laws.
“We are mortgaging the future,” the report warned.
“The state of our nation is terrifying,” Utomi said. “Citizens must reclaim the public square—this is the urgency of now.”