A political group called The Big Tent has warned that Nigeria is falling apart because of too much poverty, insecurity, weak institutions, and failed leadership. Speaking for the group, Professor Pat Utomi said Nigeria is facing a serious crisis that needs quick action and responsible leadership from both the people and those in power.

Utomi said Nigeria should be a shining light in Africa, leading the way for other countries to grow and succeed like the Asian Tigers did. But for that to happen, Nigerians must first face the truth and understand how much suffering is happening around them.

He said the level of poverty in the country clearly shows that leaders have failed. He noted that about 75% of people in rural areas are living in deep poverty. Hunger is spreading fast, farmers are no longer able to farm, and yet politicians continue to focus on living in luxury with convoys, private jets, and expensive cars. Utomi called this behavior morally wrong.

He also warned that Nigeria could soon face a serious food problem, with over 30 million people at risk of not having enough food between June and August. He said this could have been avoided if the government had listened to early warnings from agriculture experts within their coalition.

To help solve these problems, he suggested that the country should change the way land is managed. He also believes universities should play a bigger role in helping farmers by giving them training and support. He said creating centers where farm produce can be processed will also help boost food supply. According to him, just like land-grant universities helped improve farming in the U.S., Nigerian universities can also help drive innovation in agriculture.

Utomi further explained that poverty is also leading to more violence. He said people with no jobs or food can easily be used by criminals and terrorists. He called for a new system where local and state governments are allowed to handle their own security.

He added that different regions in Nigeria have valuable resources that can help the economy grow. For example, the South-West has cocoa and the North-Central has lithium, but these resources are not being used properly. Utomi believes the private sector should lead this growth while the government simply creates a good environment to support it.