Former Presidential candidate, Peter Obi
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening security situation following the reported directive by the United States Embassy in Nigeria to evacuate its staff, describing the development as a troubling signal for the country’s future and investment climate.
Obi made the remarks in a statement shared on his verified X account on Thursday, warning that the situation should be treated as a national emergency.
According to him, the reported U.S. move comes at a time when Nigeria is already battling investor confidence challenges and worsening insecurity across several regions.
“The recent directive by the United States to evacuate its embassy staff from Nigeria due to rising insecurity is deeply worrisome and should be treated as a national emergency, especially for a country already struggling to attract investors,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State governor noted that Nigeria’s ranking on the Global Terrorism Index further underscores the severity of the situation, warning that insecurity continues to escalate across the country.
According to him, Nigeria currently ranks fourth on the index, yet violence and threats to lives and communities persist.
“There is a glaring absence of effective governance; instead, what prevails are schemes that undermine democratic processes, as though politics has taken precedence over the safety of citizens,” he said.
Obi stressed that the U.S. directive reflects declining global confidence in Nigeria’s security framework, adding that reports of continued attacks, including the killing of a senior military officer in Borno State, highlight the urgency of the situation.
“The U.S. directive is a clear signal of declining confidence in our national security architecture. Disturbingly, reports indicate the loss of yet another Army Brigadier General to terrorists in Borno earlier today. A nation where people cannot live, work, worship, or travel safely cannot progress or attract investment,” he added.
The former presidential candidate also emphasized that protecting lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government, noting that leadership failures over time have worsened the burden on security forces.
“The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property, yet in this regard, we as leaders have fallen short over the years. Our failure continues to place immense strain on our troops, who make the ultimate sacrifices,” Obi stated.
Drawing a historical comparison, Obi criticized what he described as excessive political focus by leaders amid growing insecurity.
“Sadly, as Nigeria deteriorates, we as leaders, like Nero, remain preoccupied with politics, forgetting that without security, there is no nation to govern and no future to campaign for,” he said.
He concluded the statement with his signature message of optimism despite the challenges.
“A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO”
