Former Minister of Information and ex-President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, has expressed serious concerns about Nigeria’s deteriorating political and economic situation, advocating for immediate and extensive reforms to prevent national disintegration.
Speaking at a book presentation in Abuja, Nwodo described a grim outlook for the country, highlighting rising government debt, failing infrastructure, and increasing inequality. Citing data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), he stated that Nigeria’s public debt was $94 billion (₦144.7 trillion) at the close of 2024, with an additional $24 billion in loans pending approval. He warned that this could elevate the total debt to ₦183 trillion, which he deemed unsustainable given shrinking capital budgets, rising inflation, and unreliable oil revenues.
Nwodo advocated for a return to agriculture, recalling Nigeria’s past economic success with groundnut pyramids, cocoa exports, and palm oil production. He attributed the system’s collapse to military intervention and the adoption of a unitary constitution.
Referencing the UN’s World Population Prospects 2025, Nwodo noted Nigeria’s low global life expectancy of 54.8 years, which is lower than countries like Chad, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. He also highlighted the country’s deteriorating road network, citing reports that Nigeria loses over $1 billion annually due to poor road conditions and proposed a “Nigerian Road Army” to address the issue.
