Lagos, Nigeria — The Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF) has warned that Nigeria is on the brink of collapse due to leadership failure, worsening insecurity, and deepening economic hardship, urging young Nigerians to rise and steer the nation toward a new era of integrity and visionary leadership.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Lagos, President of the Forum, Comrade Olajide Filani Toriah, said the meeting was not another lamentation of the country’s challenges but a patriotic call to action to rescue Nigeria from what he described as “systemic decay and moral collapse.”
Toriah lamented that Nigeria stands at a dangerous crossroads as citizens continue to suffer the effects of poor governance and economic mismanagement that have crippled national progress and eroded public trust in leadership.
He identified insecurity, corruption, and policy inconsistency as major factors worsening the plight of Nigerians, with millions displaced, farmers unable to access their lands, and traders unsafe on the highways.
“Nigeria’s economy, once a source of pride for Africa, has become fragile due to mismanagement, weak institutions, and inconsistent policies,” Toriah said. “The continuous fall of the naira, rising inflation, and high unemployment have pushed millions into hardship, while many young people now seek survival through irregular migration and crime.”
He urged those in power to “either step up or step aside” for competent and visionary citizens capable of driving genuine progress, warning that the 2027 general elections must not become another cycle of “mediocrity and corruption.”
Toriah cited the enduring relevance of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s 1981 warning that Nigeria was “seriously ill” and in danger if leaders failed to rise above selfish interests. He said over four decades later, Awolowo’s fears have materialized in worsening insecurity, economic instability, and moral decay.
He described Nigeria’s crisis as not merely political or economic, but “a crisis of vision, integrity, and accountability,” stressing that rebuilding the country requires a new moral consciousness driven by responsible youth.
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Reaffirming the Forum’s commitment to promoting unity, accountability, and visionary leadership, Toriah urged young Nigerians to reject indifference, ethnic bias, and political manipulation, and instead unite under the UNYF’s guiding slogan: “One Youth, One Dream, One Destiny.”
He added, “The time for excuses is over. Our generation must refuse to give up until we achieve the dream of a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria.”
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