A Niger Delta-born human and development advocate, Mulade Sheriff, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over worsening hunger, hardship and insecurity in the country, warning that Nigerians are dying daily due to what he described as leadership failure.
Mulade called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent and pragmatic steps to address the situation, insisting that the current realities facing citizens demand immediate action rather than political distractions.
In a statement made available to journalists, the activist expressed concern that many political office holders were already preoccupied with future elections while millions of Nigerians grapple with poverty and insecurity.
“Nigerians are dying silently and publicly on a daily basis because of hunger, hardship and insecurity. We must rise above these challenges and stop these avoidable deaths caused by leadership failure in citizens’ welfare and protection,” he said.
He, however, noted that relative peace in the Niger Delta region was largely due to the engagement of youths through pipeline surveillance contracts.
According to him, companies such as Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and Pipeline Infrastructure Limited have helped to stabilise the region by creating jobs and reducing restiveness.
“The current saving grace in the Niger Delta, particularly in the oil and gas sector, is the pipeline surveillance contracts awarded to these firms. They have engaged a majority of the youths and created some level of economic stability in the region,” he stated.
Mulade warned that without such interventions, insecurity in the region could have escalated to dangerous levels with serious economic implications for the country.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, therefore, urged the Federal Government to sustain the surveillance contracts, especially as the nation moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
He stressed that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government, cautioning against prioritising re-election over governance.
“The Federal Government should not abandon the protection of its citizens and concentrate on re-election. Nigerians are fast losing trust and confidence in government at all levels due to the focus on retaining power rather than ensuring economic stability, development and security,” he said.
Mulade further urged the President to act swiftly to restore hope and prevent further decline.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must act now to save Nigerians and prevent the nation from sliding deeper into crisis. We must become a true economic giant of Africa, not just in population and landmass,” he added.
