“We’re on the Brink of Crisis: Olusegun Obasanjo Reiterates Concerns About Nigeria’s Youth”

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has sounded the alarm over the rising number of young Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad. He believes that this trend is primarily driven by frustration and high unemployment rates within the country.

Obasanjo pointed out that Nigeria is facing significant economic challenges due to the emigration of its youth in search of better opportunities. In a recent lecture, he voiced his concerns regarding the situation of young people, saying, I’m worried, particularly with the youth. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, we are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder if we ignore our youths.

His remarks highlight the urgency of addressing the underlying issues that lead young Nigerians to leave.He emphasized that the discontent among the youth stems from a mix of hunger, a lack of job prospects, and widespread anger.

They are frustrated, they are hungry, they are unemployed, and they are angry, he noted.Obasanjo’s comments come amidst rising concerns about the grim future facing Nigeria’s young population and the economic loss resulting from their migration.

He also addressed the financial impact, revealing that the country is losing a considerable amount of money due to young people leaving the country. Now part of the lecture we had is the amount of money we are losing by the Nigerian youths that ‘japa’. I’m worried about that, he said.

His statements serve as a crucial reminder of the pressing need for government action to create job opportunities and improve living conditions for the youth, aiming to curb the trend of emigration.