Sir: Nigeria is a nation of great potential, yet every day ordinary Nigerians are weighed down by three crises that refuse to let up: insecurity, inflation, and a deep housing shortage. These problems are not abstract policy issues, they are the lived reality of millions, and they are shaping the country’s future in ways we cannot ignore.
A Country Under Siege
Insecurity is tearing at the very fabric of society. Across the north, banditry and kidnappings have become a way of life. In just one year, over six hundred thousand Nigerians lost their lives to violence. Millions more were kidnapped, with ransom payments running into trillions of naira. Schools have been raided, farmers have abandoned their fields, and entire communities live in fear.
We cannot continue to treat insecurity only as a military problem. Poverty, joblessness, and lack of education are feeding the violence. Until the government tackles these root causes with the same energy it devotes to guns and checkpoints, this cycle will not break.
The Weight of Inflation
Step into any market in Nigeria today and you can feel the impact of inflation. Prices of food and basic goods climb almost weekly while salaries remain the same. Families are forced to make impossible choices between feeding their children and paying for transport or medicine.
This is not just bad economics, it is a crisis of survival. The government must move beyond empty promises and stabilise food supply chains, support local production, and deal with the corruption and inefficiencies that keep costs high. Inflation will not be tamed by rhetoric; it will be tamed by practical solutions that ordinary Nigerians can feel in their pockets.
No Roof to Call Home
Nigeria’s housing deficit is another silent emergency. Estimates vary, but experts agree the country is short by tens of millions of homes. Urban areas are overcrowded, rents are skyrocketing, and low-income families are the worst hit. Shelter is not a privilege; it is a basic need.
Yet, year after year, affordable housing remains at the bottom of the priority list. Government cannot fix this alone. Partnerships with the private sector and new ideas like incremental housing and slum upgrading must be embraced. Without bold action, the dream of home ownership will remain out of reach for the majority.
The Rural-Urban Dilemma
All of these problems are made worse by the constant movement of people from rural areas to the cities. When villages lack roads, electricity, schools, and hospitals, people will naturally leave in search of something better. The result is overcrowded cities and abandoned rural communities. The solution is simple, though not easy. Invest in rural infrastructure, spread economic opportunities beyond Lagos and Abuja, and develop new towns that can ease the pressure on major cities. If rural life is dignified and sustainable, fewer people will be forced to migrate.
A Call to Action
Nigeria’s triple threat is not going away on its own. Insecurity, inflation, and housing shortages are strangling progress. What is needed now is leadership with courage and vision. Security cannot be separated from jobs, inflation cannot be separated from agriculture, and housing cannot be separated from urban planning. These issues are connected and must be tackled together. Every Nigerian knows the reality. The question is whether those in power are ready to act. If the government continues to delay, the cost will only grow heavier for ordinary people. Nigeria has the resources and the resilience to turn this tide, but it requires urgency, honesty, and the political will to put citizens first.
The time for excuses has passed. The time for action is now.
• Augustine Udoh is An Estate Surveyor and Valuer in Lagos.
