- Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has described Nigeria as “the worst place to be born” in his Independence Day message marking the country’s 66th anniversary.
- Obi criticised the APC-led Federal Government over poverty, insecurity, unemployment, hunger and other social challenges, while citing figures on poverty, out-of-school children and youth unemployment.
Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has described Nigeria as “the worst place to be born” while highlighting the country’s poverty, insecurity, unemployment and hunger crisis.
Obi made the statement in his Independence Day message on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary.
The former Anambra State governor criticised the APC-led administration, saying the country had continued to face serious challenges despite promises made during the 2023 election.
He said: “Despite the promises made by the APC government in 2023, our nation continues to face deepening challenges across virtually every critical sector of national life.”
Obi also cited figures relating to poverty and education, claiming that more than 140 million Nigerians were living in poverty and hardship, while more than 80 million children were out of school.
He further raised concerns about insecurity, referencing banditry and kidnapping, as well as the recent death of 37 young Nigerians.
On food insecurity, Obi said millions of Nigerians were struggling with hunger and cited an estimate that more than 40 million people could face extreme hunger before the end of 2026.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s infant and maternal mortality rates and youth unemployment.
Obi said: “Today, Nigeria is the worst place to be born. Our youth unemployment is the highest; over 35 million youths are unemployed, and we have one of the worst drug prevalences globally.”
He also cited drug and substance misuse, saying the figure in Nigeria stood at 14 per cent compared with a global average of six per cent, while putting life expectancy at 54 years against a global average of 74 years.
Obi said the figures and conditions required Nigerians to engage in serious reflection about the country’s direction and the choices that had shaped its development.
His remarks came hours after President Bola Tinubu, in his own Independence Day address, said Nigeria had moved beyond the most difficult phase of his economic reforms and was entering what he described as an “age of prosperity.”
