The federal government has dismissed claims by a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) that Nigeria is on the verge of collapse.
On Tuesday, over 50 CSOs—including ActionAid Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Yiaga Africa—warned that the country is facing worsening insecurity, rising poverty, and governance challenges. They said Nigerians are struggling with economic hardship while political leaders “trade rhetoric,” adding that insecurity, inequality, and economic strain persist despite increasing government revenues.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 81st General Assembly and 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris rejected the notion that Nigeria is near collapse.
“I want to unequivocally refute the insinuation that Nigeria is on the brink,” he said. “On the contrary, we are daily exhibiting resilience and tackling our security and economic challenges more decisively.”
Idris highlighted progress in addressing insecurity through coordinated operations by the Armed Forces and other security agencies, noting that incidents of large-scale insurgent control have significantly decreased. He cited recent successful operations in Zamfara and Niger states, where bandits were neutralised and planned attacks foiled.
On the economic front, Idris pointed to signs of recovery and growing investor confidence. “Nigeria’s foreign reserves are strengthening, investor confidence is improving, and reforms in both the oil and non-oil sectors are expanding revenue streams,” he said. “These decisions, though difficult, are stabilising public finances and creating a more transparent economic environment.”
He also noted that Nigeria’s return to frontier market status by FTSE Russell signals renewed global confidence, making the country a viable destination for international investment.
The minister called on broadcasters to uphold professionalism and responsible reporting, particularly with another election cycle approaching, and urged stronger collaboration between government and media to counter misinformation.
“Difficult moments like this require stronger faith in our country and a deep sense of patriotism, not narratives that create fear or division,” Idris concluded.
