ActionAid Nigeria has expressed grave concern over the worsening living conditions of the country’s poorest citizens, warning that insecurity, rising debt, inflation and humanitarian threats are undermining development gains.
In a press conference addressed by its General Assembly after the Annual General Meeting in Abuja on Saturday 18 July 2026, the organisation said while it welcomed some government initiatives, Nigerians are still waiting to see them translate into real protection and prosperity.
The General Assembly noted and welcomed the renewed legislative push for state police, the Federal Executive Council’s approval of comprehensive NYSC reform, and the introduction of a new community-level flood forecasting system ahead of the rainy season.
However, it highlighted troubling economic indicators. Nigeria’s external reserves have grown to about $51.5 billion, but total public debt has also increased to ₦156.28 trillion. The Assembly noted that $11.6 billion has been set aside for debt servicing in 2026 alone, more than Nigeria spends on education, health, and agriculture combined.
Citing the World Bank, ActionAid said 79% of Nigerians remain poor or vulnerable to falling into poverty despite recent reforms. The National Bureau of Statistics also reported a June headline inflation rate of 15.91%, with food prices rising, petrol selling above ₦1,100 per litre, transport costs remaining high, and the ₦70,000 minimum wage unable to sustain a family anywhere in the country.
On security, the Assembly raised alarm over attacks on schools. “Between May and July 2026 alone, at least 124 schoolchildren and students were reported abducted across Oyo, Borno and Zamfara states, underscoring the worsening threat to education and the safety of learners in Nigeria. Many abducted children and teachers in other states remain in captivity,” it said.
ActionAid welcomed the rescue of 39 Oyo pupils and six surviving teachers, but urged government to treat the rescue of all others still in captivity as a national emergency. “There must be a visible, coordinated, adequately resourced rescue and protection operation with clear timelines and public updates. The Safe Schools Declaration must be fully funded and implemented, with community-level security in rural and newly threatened states,” it stated.
The group also warned of the 2026 flood outlook. The Federal Government has placed 33 states and the FCT on high flood alert, with over 14,000 communities, nearly 5,000 health facilities, and over 10,000 schools at risk between July and September. “Nigeria cannot keep responding to a disaster it predicts every single year,” it said.
Reviewing the democratic environment ahead of 2027, ActionAid drew lessons from the Ekiti State governorship election held on 20 June 2026 and several bye-elections. While the Ekiti poll was largely peaceful with improved logistics, there were reported allegations of vote-buying, voter intimidation, malfunctioning accreditation equipment, and inconsistencies among ballot papers, result sheets, and INEC’s published list of candidates.
The Assembly recommended that INEC take concrete steps to prove its neutrality ahead of 2027 and treat those irregularities as urgent lessons. It also called for sustained voter education by INEC, the National Orientation Agency, CSOs and the media, “particularly in rural communities, so that citizens can resist vote-buying and recognise their rights at the polling unit.”
On economic management, ActionAid urged government to plug revenue leakages and opaque FAAC deductions, publish full auditable accounts of all deductions at source, and design a credible debt management framework. It also called for a review of the proposed sugar tax to protect small retailers and ensure revenue is tracked and spent on primary healthcare in underserved communities.
With nearly 35 million Nigerians facing acute food insecurity in the 2026 lean season, the Assembly said social protection schemes must be audited, beneficiary data published, and delivery gaps closed, with women, youth and rural communities centred in delivery.
On health, it cited the cholera outbreak in Borno and rising non-communicable diseases as consequences of underinvestment, and demanded full capitalisation and disbursement of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
Regarding fuel pricing, ActionAid noted that reductions in ex-depot price by Dangote Refinery have not brought relief as petrol still sells above ₦1,100 per litre. It expressed concern over the refinery’s move to price local fuel sales in dollars, warning it could further increase petrol, transport and food prices. It called on NMDPRA and FCCPC to monitor retail stations and prevent exploitative pricing.
The Assembly concluded with a call to civil society, media, faith communities and all Nigerians to continue to speak up and hold government accountable.
“ActionAid Nigeria remains committed to standing with people living in poverty and exclusion, to pursuing social justice and gender equality, and to ensuring that Nigeria’s development does not leave the most vulnerable behind.”
