Former Special Adviser on political matters to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has warned the government that it is creating conditions that could easily lead to mass unrest due to economic volatility, high inflation, insecurity, and youth unemployment, among others.

He warned that if something urgent is not done to arrest the current situation—by the government acting with courage to stabilise the economy, cut waste, secure the people, and invest in jobs and human capital—then the revolt in Nepal is not far from the country.

This was just as a Professor of Economics from the University of Lagos, Professor Femi Saibu, stated that the rise of insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and separatist agitations in the South-East are symptoms of systemic exclusion by the Nigerian state.

The duo spoke at the 14th Annual Symposium by the Muslim Students Society Nigeria held over the weekend at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic Centre in Ekiti State, with the theme: Managing a Volatile Economy for Internal Peace and Security.

Ojudu, who was the keynote speaker at the event, noted that the country’s inflation is running high, the naira is fragile, and youth unemployment is among the highest in the world, adding that insecurity has already taken root in many parts of the country. “When prices soar and families cannot feed, when young graduates roam the streets without jobs, when farmers abandon their farms for fear of bandits, we are creating conditions that can easily spill into mass unrest.

“The revolt in Nepal is not far from us. Nigeria today sits on a knife-edge of economic volatility. If something urgent is not done, Nigeria may face a perfect storm: economic despair feeding social anger, which in turn fuels insecurity. Hunger riots, labour revolts, youth radicalisation, and even further disintegration of social trust are not impossible.

“We must not deceive ourselves—a society can collapse from within long before external enemies arrive. But this is not inevitable. The course of history can still be changed. Government must act with courage to stabilise the economy, cut waste, secure the people, and invest in jobs and human capital.

“The people, too, must play their part—demand accountability peacefully; refuse to be divided by ethnicity or religion; and support policies that strengthen the economy even when they demand sacrifice. Nigeria has all it takes—human talent, natural resources, entrepreneurial energy—to rise above volatility and become a beacon of stability in Africa,” he said.

In his lecture titled Renewed Wave of Internal Aggression: Stakeholders’ Role in Combating Social Inequalities, Professor Saibu said that Nigeria stands at a crossroads not of geography, but of destiny.

“We can either allow inequality to deepen and internal aggression to fester, or we can rise—together with vision, values, and vigour. This is not a rhetorical moment. It is a moral reckoning.

“The success stories we have explored—from NSIP to ECID, from LSETF to NELFUND—are not dreams. They are proof of possibility. They show that government intervention can work, that civil society can mobilise, that faith can inspire, and that youth can lead. They affirm that Nigeria is not condemned to inequality and despair. We are capable of building a nation where opportunity is shared, dignity is protected, and peace is sustained.”

Also, in his lecture titled The Dwindling Fortunes of the Nigerian Economy Amidst Escalated Conflicts: Impacts and Challenges Ahead of the 2027 General Election, Dr. Musefiu Adeleke of the Bank of Industry said that the dwindling fortunes of the country’s economy and escalating conflict present serious challenges, noting that they also offer an opportunity for reflection and collective action.

“As we approach the 2027 general elections, the choices of our leaders, the resilience of our institutions, and the participation of our citizens, especially our youths, will determine whether Nigeria sinks deeper into crisis or rises toward prosperity and stability.”

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the occasion and a retired Permanent Secretary in Ekiti State, Alhaji Ganiyu Titilope, said that lack of foresight and proper planning for the future has turned a booming economy into a “resilient economy.”

“Today, the majority of Nigerians live below the poverty line and struggle daily to make ends meet. A hungry man, they say, is an angry man. The consequence of our past negligence is haunting us today, making internal peace elusive in Nigeria. The country is battling, on many fronts, with internal insurrection, ranging from religio-political conflicts to tribal conflicts.”