YPP Flays Federal Govt Over Insecurity, Corruption, Economic Hardship

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) has appealed to the federal government to quickly address the worsening insecurity, corruption, economic hardship and institutional decay affecting millions of Nigerians.

At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, YPP national chairman, Bishop Amakiri, said one of the worst failures of successive governments, particularly the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, has been the inability to effectively tackle insecurity.

According to him, rather than adopting a decisive and uncompromising approach to terrorism and insurgency, the government has often treated such threats with undue leniency.

Amakiri criticised programmes aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists under “Operation Safe Corridor” while victims of terrorism continue to endure harsh conditions in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

He noted that despite Nigeria spending an estimated N25 trillion on defence and security over the past decade, the huge expenditure has not translated into improved welfare for military personnel, acquisition of modern military hardware or significant gains in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

The YPP chairman also expressed concern over what he described as the government’s reluctance to confront financiers of terrorism, stressing that individuals and organisations funding criminal activities remain the major force sustaining insecurity in the country.

“Despite repeated revelations and intelligence reports, including efforts by foreign governments to expose such individuals, the government has failed to demonstrate the political will to identify, prosecute and punish those responsible,” he said.

Amakiri lamented that insecurity has spread across virtually every region of the country, making it difficult for farmers to access their farmlands and contributing to declining food production, rising hunger and escalating food prices.

He cited projections indicating that about 35 million Nigerians could face acute food insecurity, while more than 20 million children remain out of school.

The YPP chairman also condemned the continued captivity of abducted students and teachers in Oyo and Borno States, describing it as evidence of the government’s lack of urgency in addressing the security crisis.

“The consequences of continued government inaction are grave. Nigerians are becoming increasingly frustrated and may eventually resort to self-help measures. Such a development would undermine the rule of law and threaten the very foundations of our nationhood,” he warned.

To address the challenge, the party urged the government to demonstrate stronger political will in combating terrorism and insurgency by identifying, arresting and prosecuting terrorism financiers

The YPP also called for strict oversight and accountability in defence spending, investigation of past defence expenditures, and prosecution of individuals found culpable of misappropriating public funds.

The party advocated a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and banditry, increased investment in intelligence gathering and modern military technology, stricter border controls, continuous training of security personnel, and the prosecution of individuals who incite violence through religious or other platforms.

Amakiri further reiterated the need to establish state police, arguing that although it may not solve all security challenges, it would significantly improve local security responses if backed by adequate safeguards against abuse.

On the economy, the YPP described the country’s situation as a troubling contradiction.

According to the party, despite the removal of fuel subsidy, increased electricity tariffs, tax reforms and other economic measures, the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians have worsened significantly.

Amakiri maintained that corruption remains pervasive across the public sector and that Nigeria’s poor performance on global corruption indices reflects a lack of genuine commitment to fighting corruption.

He also criticised the country’s rising debt profile despite assurances that subsidy removal would free up resources for development.