Former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has called for the immediate restructuring of Nigeria, warning that failure to do so could lead to the country’s disintegration.
Speaking at a book launch in Abuja, Nwodo said the country must grant its federating units control over their natural resources, subject to the payment of royalties or taxes to the federal government to handle core national responsibilities such as external defence, immigration, and foreign affairs.
Delivering the keynote address titled “How Did We Get Here” at the launch of two books authored by former THISDAY journalist, Ike Abonye, Nwodo emphasized the urgency of reforming Nigeria’s federal structure.
“Nigeria must restructure and give its component units sovereignty over their natural resources. These irreducible minimum conditions are not negotiable,” Nwodo said. “If they are not met, we will have no alternative but to go our separate ways. The restructuring process must be concluded before the 2027 elections.”
The event, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, also featured remarks from former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who decried what he described as the erosion of democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In his address, Nwodo decried Nigeria’s poor socioeconomic indicators, referencing the United Nations World Population Prospects (WPP) 2025 report which ranked Nigeria with the world’s lowest life expectancy — 54.8 years — below countries like Chad and South Sudan.
Citing reports from former President Goodluck Jonathan and recent analyses by BusinessDay, Nwodo highlighted how poor infrastructure and insecurity continue to stifle economic growth. He noted that Nigeria loses about $1 billion annually due to bad roads, quoting a 2022 World Bank report.
“Road transport moves 90 per cent of goods and passengers in Nigeria, yet most roads are in disrepair,” he said. “Delivery delays, increased fuel consumption, and shortened vehicle lifespan all translate to economic losses paid for by consumers, businesses, and the government.”
He also lamented that poor logistics and insecurity have led to high food waste. “The Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute estimates that up to 40 per cent of food produced never reaches the final consumer. This is unacceptable for a country battling food insecurity.”
On the nation’s growing debt burden, Nwodo noted that as of December 2024, Nigeria’s public debt had risen to $94 billion (₦144.7 trillion), a 65.6% increase since President Tinubu took office in 2023. A proposed additional $24 billion borrowing could push the debt to ₦183 trillion.
Speaking at the same event, Secondus warned that Nigeria’s democracy was at risk of collapse. He accused the APC-led federal government of steering the country toward a one-party state and called for the strengthening of democratic institutions.
“We are watching our democracy fade under President Tinubu. What we see is political chain command, not a system built on freedom or ideological plurality,” he said. “What exists in Nigeria today are not political parties but mere platforms to access power.”
Secondus advocated for the South African model of democracy, where no individual is above the party system and internal party democracy is respected.
The event also saw the attendance of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi. His presence added weight to speculations about efforts by the PDP to bring him back into the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
The books unveiled at the event were “The Bubbles of Nigeria’s Democracy: The Musings of a Nigerian Journalist” and “Wadata Wonders: Memoirs of a Partisan Journalist.”
