‘We Are Now Bandits Living In Darkness’ — Economist Sarah Ibrahim Blasts FG Over Economic Hardship, Security At Ibadan Opposition Summit

Economist and youth advocate, Ms. Sarah Ibrahim, delivered a scathing assessment of the Nigerian state during a high-level national summit of opposition leaders held at the Government House Banquet Hall, Agodi, Ibadan.

Speaking to an audience of political stakeholders, Ibrahim lamented that the combination of pervasive darkness and economic despair has effectively reduced citizens to “bandits” in their own country.

The economist raised a serious alarm over the growing number of out-of-school children, which she placed at over 20 million, emphasizing that this crisis is fueled by extreme poverty rather than a lack of interest in education. She noted that these children remain at home simply because their families can no longer afford the basic costs of schooling.

On the security front, she expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s ranking as the fourth most terrorized country globally, citing a heartbreaking incident where students heading for their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were abducted. Taking a swipe at the recent electricity tariff reclassifications, Ibrahim argued that labels such as “Band A, B, or C” are meaningless when businesses remain unproductive due to constant power outages. She remarked that the entire country has effectively become “bandits” because everyone is forced to live in darkness, with every business sector currently suffering from a total lack of reliable energy.

Comparing current economic indicators to past levels, Ibrahim pointed out the dramatic surge in the cost of essential commodities. She observed that while prominent leaders in the current administration once protested when fuel was ₦141, the price has now skyrocketed to ₦1,450. Similarly, she noted that the dollar has risen from ₦460 to over ₦1,400, representing a staggering 95% increase that has crippled the purchasing power of the average Nigerian. In her concluding remarks, she urged the gathered opposition leaders to move beyond rhetoric, noting that the Nigerian youth require a country that functions—where food is affordable, the economy is stable, and education is accessible. She emphasized that history will not remember the summit itself, but rather the tangible outcomes that result from the gathering.