PFN demands urgent action on insecurity, hardship

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has used Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary to demand urgent action from governments at all levels on insecurity, worsening economic hardship, corruption and the growing illicit drug trade, warning that the country’s progress cannot be measured while citizens remain exposed to these problems.

The National President of the PFN, Archbishop Wale Oke, made the call in his Independence Day message on Thursday, saying the anniversary should serve not only as a moment of celebration but as an opportunity for Nigerians to undertake what he described as “deep and honest reflection” on the state of the nation.

Oke, in the statement obtained by The PUNCH, acknowledged the progress Nigeria had made since independence but said the gains could not obscure the challenges confronting the country, particularly the threat to the lives and livelihoods of citizens.

“Without doubt we need a framework that protects every life in this country, whether in our bustling cities or in the quiet villages, in the North or South, East or West,” he said.

The PFN leader, who has previously criticised the worsening security situation and called for stronger government action, said the Federal Government must intensify its efforts against banditry and terrorism and pursue those financing the violence.

“We must remove the bandits and terrorists from our forests and bring them and their financiers to justice. The Federal Government must do more and do it now,” Oke said.

His latest intervention comes against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s own emphasis on security as a condition for economic development in its Independence anniversary messaging.

The government has said its next phase of economic policy is aimed at translating recent reforms into jobs, higher incomes and improved living conditions.

Oke argued that economic progress would remain incomplete if Nigerians continued to bear the effects of insecurity and declining purchasing power.

He described the worsening economic situation as “deeply worrisome,” saying the hardship confronting Nigerians was evident in everyday life and required more forceful action from both the Federal and state governments.

“We do not need reports or indices to tell us this. It is a stark reality staring us in the face,” he said.

The PFN president argued that Nigeria’s natural and human resources should be deployed to improve the welfare of the wider population rather than benefit only a small section of society.

He called for a review of existing laws and the enactment of new legislation to create a more favourable environment for businesses, while urging the government to pursue industrialisation as a means of expanding the country’s productive capacity.

“Industrialisation of the nation should be vigorously pursued for massive economic, technological and social changes to enhance our productive capacity and improve our standard of living,” he said.

Oke identified corruption as a major obstacle to the delivery of the benefits of democracy, arguing that its consequences extended beyond the diversion of public resources.

“Corruption is an anathema to democracy, for it undermines the principles of accountability, transparency, and the rule of law upon which democratic governance rests,” he said.

He accused corruption of contributing to stalled development, depleted public resources, deepened inequality and weakened public trust, while limiting opportunities for young Nigerians.

The cleric called on the federal, state and local governments to intensify efforts to tackle corruption and ensure that public resources translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

“Governments at all tiers—whether national, state or local—need to try harder and tackle it headlong and wipe it out so that every Nigerian will enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.

Oke also raised concern over the production and movement of illicit drugs through the country, describing the trend as a threat to young Nigerians and, by extension, the country’s future.

He said although government agencies had taken steps to address the problem, more needed to be done to prevent the production and trafficking of illicit drugs and protect young people from their effects.

“It is also deeply heartbreaking to note the rise of illicit drugs being produced and transported through our country,” he said.

“Most troubling is the danger this poses to our younger generation, the very future of our nation.”

Rather than limiting his Independence Day message to criticism of government, however, Oke also called for collective responsibility among Nigerians, urging citizens to look beyond ethnic, religious and social differences and work towards a more cohesive society.

He called for a country founded on peace, justice and equality, urging Nigerians to recommit themselves to the ideals associated with the country’s independence.

“Let us come together at this critical juncture and commit ourselves to building a nation where there will be peace, oneness and love, a nation where justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream,” he said.

Oke said Nigeria remained capable of achieving greater development but argued that doing so would require both effective government and responsible citizenship.

“Nigeria can be great again, but we must all play our parts. Nigeria belong to all of us, and its progress is dependent on all of us,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to be deliberate about the choices they make and to ensure that their actions contribute to national development.

“Let us therefore be determined to think, to speak and do only that which will move Nigeria forward and give it accelerated progress,” he said.

The PFN’s intervention comes amid a broader Independence Day debate over whether the country’s recent economic reforms and reported macroeconomic improvements are yet translating into meaningful changes in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

The Federal Government has described the current phase of its programme as a transition from economic reform and stabilisation towards growth and shared prosperity, with President Bola Tinubu saying on Thursday that the central task was now to bring down the cost of living and expand productive opportunities.