Nigeria Drowning In ‘Simultaneous Storm’ Of Insecurity, Political Uncertainty, Report Warns

A new report by the Nextier Group has painted a grim picture of Nigeria, warning that the nation is facing a dangerous “crisis overload” that is breeding widespread apathy and eroding civic engagement.

The report, released this week, highlights the stark contrast between the horrific recent massacre in Kwara State and a contentious battle over electoral reform in the National Assembly as evidence of a deepening governance deficit.

On February 3-4, gunmen attacked the villages of Woro and Nuku in Kwara State, killing over 160 people, burning homes, and abducting dozens.

The attack, reportedly stemming from resistance to the imposition of Sharia law, is the deadliest terrorist incident in Nigeria in recent memory and underscores the escalating insecurity plaguing the country.

While the North East has long been the focus of international attention, the report notes attacks are spreading westward and southward, straining the nation’s security architecture.

“This brutality is not an isolated aberration but symptomatic of a broader insecurity crisis that has metastasised across the country,” the Nextier Group report states.

Almost simultaneously, the National Assembly became embroiled in a dispute over Clause 60 of the Electoral Bill, specifically Section 60(3) which mandates the real-time electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IREV portal.

This provision is widely seen as crucial for preventing election manipulation and building public trust, particularly after the disputed 2023 elections.

However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s ruling that the clause was adopted “as amended and not as recommended” has sparked confusion and accusations of a rollback on transparency.

While some records suggest the mandatory electronic transmission requirement was dropped, others claim it remains in place.

“In a country already overwhelmed by insecurity and economic distress, even the rules of elections now appear unsettled, another reminder to citizens that clarity, like accountability, remains perpetually deferred,” the report observes.

The Nextier Group argues that these events, taken together, are not merely coincidental. They represent a deeper problem: a government seemingly unable to simultaneously address security threats and maintain the integrity of its democratic processes. This constant barrage of crises is leading to “civic exhaustion,” where citizens become desensitised and disengaged.

“When every day brings a fresh calamity or controversy, citizens learn to tune out… This is particularly perilous in a country where democratic consolidation is fragile and popular participation is vital,” the report warns.

The consequences, experts fear, could be generational. Apathy risks shrinking civic space, particularly among young people who may lose faith in the ability of the state to secure their futures.

The Nextier Group empasised that Nigeria needs a “reset” of the national psyche, requiring the government to demonstrate its ability to both protect its citizens and uphold democratic principles.

Without a renewed commitment to security and transparency, the report warns, Nigeria risks slipping into a “singularity of civic disillusionment.”