Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has sharply criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of mismanaging the country’s resources and failing to address the nation’s severe infrastructure deficit and escalating hunger levels. Sowore argued that the funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidies have not been effectively channeled into economic development, as promised by the government.
Speaking on Channels TV’s live broadcast, which was monitored by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, Sowore claimed that poverty has reached unprecedented levels under President Tinubu’s leadership. He stressed that, like previous administrations, Tinubu’s government has prioritized resource mismanagement rather than solving the pressing issues facing the nation. “There is total mismanagement of the resources of the country and I am not saying this because that is what people want to hear,” Sowore stated, expressing his frustration with the current government’s handling of Nigeria’s challenges.
Sowore’s criticism focused particularly on the government’s failure to live up to its promises regarding the removal of fuel subsidies. When the subsidy was removed, the administration promised that the savings would be used to improve the nation’s economy and foster prosperity. However, Sowore contends that these promises have not been fulfilled. “We were told as of a year ago when they took over power, the first decision they made was that they are going to remove subsidy and that whatever they saved from subsidy would be applied to managing the economy better to bring about prosperity, to bring about development. All of that cannot be shown to any in the country,” he said.
The human rights activist also pointed to Nigeria’s significant infrastructure challenges, which are estimated to require between $100 billion to $150 billion annually over the next decade to address. Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit has had a detrimental impact on key sectors such as transportation, healthcare, education, and power supply, hindering economic growth, competitiveness, and human development.
Sowore shared his firsthand experience of the worsening conditions in Nigeria’s infrastructure during a recent visit to his hometown in Ondo State. He described the state of disrepair of roads and public amenities as alarming. “The state of road infrastructure is the worst I have seen in a long time. I have not seen poverty like I have seen until recent times,” Sowore lamented, emphasizing how conditions have deteriorated since the Tinubu administration took office.
In addition to the infrastructure issues, Sowore highlighted the widespread hunger and poverty he witnessed in Ondo State, describing it as the worst he has seen in his lifetime. His observations underscored his concern about the worsening economic situation, which he believes is a direct result of the government’s failure to prioritize the needs of the citizens.
Sowore also pointed out that many Nigerians are now in a worse economic situation than they were before President Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023. “Many Nigerians are worse off than they were in 2023,” he said, adding that the promises made by the administration have not been reflected in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Sowore’s sentiments have been echoed by other groups, including the Afenifere group, which recently expressed its disappointment with the economic situation under Tinubu’s leadership. Afenifere lamented that Nigerians have been left in a worse state after just one year of Tinubu’s administration, with no significant improvements in the country’s economic conditions.
