The Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO) has warned that Nigeria is teetering on the brink of collapse under President Bola Tinubu, blaming the administration for worsening poverty, mounting public debt, insecurity and declining public confidence in government.

The organisation, which is campaigning for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde ahead of the 2027 presidential election, alleged that about 140 million Nigerians, representing 63 per cent of the population, were living in poverty, citing figures it attributed to the World Bank’s April 2026 Nigeria Development Update.

In a statement issued yesterday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Nnanna Ihediwa, the campaign organisation described the situation as a potential humanitarian crisis, warning that continued economic hardship could deepen social tensions and undermine national stability.

It also cited an alleged government report that approximately 70 per cent of Nigerian children under the age of 10 could neither read nor understand a simple sentence, describing the situation as evidence of a worsening education crisis with serious implications for the country’s future.

The MDPCO accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of failing to address the hardship confronting ordinary Nigerians, while some government officials allegedly continued to display affluence and indulge in extravagant lifestyles.

It said the contrast between the economic difficulties faced by citizens and the perceived extravagance of public officials reflected a leadership increasingly detached from the realities of the people.

The organisation further expressed concern over Nigeria’s position on global poverty rankings, arguing that the country’s economic difficulties were particularly troubling given its substantial human and natural resources.

According to the campaign organisation, the combination of economic distress, weakening public institutions, worsening insecurity and declining public confidence has heightened the risk of state failure.

It also faulted the administration’s fiscal management, accusing it of failing to implement budgets effectively, disregarding constitutional provisions and relying on arbitrary measures that, it argued, had undermined confidence in governance.

On infrastructure, the MDPCO put Nigeria’s deficit at an estimated $2.3 trillion, citing the scale of investment required to bridge the gap.

It said experts estimated that approximately $100 billion would be needed annually over the next 30 years to address the country’s infrastructure challenges.

The campaign organisation, however, alleged that the Tinubu administration had failed to demonstrate the fiscal discipline, transparent procurement practices and strategic investment required to mobilise and deploy resources effectively.

It expressed particular concern over public debt, which it put at N166.7 trillion, warning that continued borrowing without corresponding improvements in citizens’ living conditions could place an unsustainable burden on future generations.

“President Tinubu is burying Nigeria by instalment, saddling the nation with a debt burden her future generation won’t be able to pay,” the statement said.

The MDPCO also questioned the rationale for seeking additional foreign loans, including a reported $1.5 billion credit facility from the World Bank, arguing that the government had yet to demonstrate a clear strategy for managing its existing debt obligations.

It further alleged that concerns over the possible diversion of borrowed funds into private pockets made the situation more troubling, although it did not provide specific evidence to substantiate the allegation.

The organisation warned that a growing debt burden could expose Nigeria to external economic pressures and raise concerns about its capacity to meet future repayment obligations.

It consequently urged Nigerians to reject another four-year term for Tinubu, arguing that a continuation of the administration could deepen the country’s economic difficulties and further constrain its development prospects.

The campaign organisation also criticised what it described as the President’s prolonged absences from the country, alleging that they had weakened effective governance and left the nation vulnerable to the influence of unelected individuals.

It maintained that the country’s worsening economic conditions, particularly among young people, required urgent political and policy interventions.

With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the MDPCO described the poll as a critical opportunity for Nigerians to determine the country’s future direction through the ballot.

It called on citizens to participate actively in the election, resist electoral manipulation and support what it described as a credible transition to a new political direction.

The organisation presented Makinde’s proposed RESET NIGERIA agenda as an alternative to the current administration’s policies, promising a government focused on transparency, accountability, inclusion and economic growth.

According to the statement, the agenda would seek to harness Nigeria’s comparative advantages and deploy data-driven strategies to reform the productive, security and education sectors for greater public benefit.

The campaign organisation urged Nigerians to support Makinde’s presidential ambition, arguing that the country needed leadership capable of prioritising citizens’ welfare over personal interests.