As Nigeria’s Economy Crumbles, Pat Utomi Condemns Elites Focused on Jets, Convoys, and Lavish Spending

 

Respected political economist and public intellectual, Professor Pat Utomi, has issued a stern warning about Nigeria’s worsening economic and social conditions. In a strongly worded statement delivered during a recent media briefing, Utomi painted a grim picture of a country unraveling under the weight of widespread poverty, insecurity, and institutional dysfunction.

His criticism comes amid rising national concern over the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, while those in power appear to be living in a parallel reality driven by extravagance and political showmanship.

Utomi did not hold back in his remarks, calling out the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the broader political elite for what he described as misplaced priorities and moral decay. “The rural economy has collapsed. Farmers can’t farm, and yet our political elite are obsessed with convoys, jets and SUVs. It’s morally bankrupt,” he declared, underscoring a growing disconnect between the government and the citizens it claims to serve.

According to Utomi, Nigeria is facing an existential crisis, and the signs are visible everywhere. From barren farmlands due to insecurity, to inflation that has driven basic goods beyond the reach of the average household, the symptoms of collapse are no longer subtle. He expressed dismay over the absence of a serious, targeted response from government, accusing leaders of fiddling while the country descends into chaos.

While speaking on the country’s broken agricultural system, Utomi highlighted how insecurity has forced many farmers to abandon their fields. Armed violence, kidnapping, and conflict in rural communities have made farming not only difficult but life-threatening. This has further compounded food insecurity and created a ripple effect across the entire economy, increasing the price of essential commodities and deepening hunger among vulnerable populations.

Beyond lamenting the decline, Utomi presented a roadmap of reforms he believes could reverse the downward spiral. He advocated for urgent structural changes, particularly to land tenure systems that often prevent efficient and equitable access to land for agricultural purposes. “Land reform is essential if we are serious about reviving agriculture and empowering rural communities,” he said.

He also called for universities to be repositioned as centers for agricultural extension services, ensuring that research and innovation are directly connected to local farmers who need them most. According to Utomi, these institutions must be active partners in building sustainable agro-processing hubs, which would not only create jobs but also stabilize rural economies.

Touching on the spiraling security situation, Utomi made a powerful link between poverty and rising violence. “When people have no hope and no income, they become easy recruits for terrorists and criminals,” he warned. To address this, he renewed calls for decentralised policing, arguing that local authorities are better placed to understand and manage the unique security needs of their communities.

Utomi’s message was not just another critique from the sidelines; it was a rallying cry for citizens and civil society to demand better governance and accountability. He stressed that only civic pressure and bold leadership can push the country back from the edge. “This is not just about bad policy; it’s about a failure of values. We must recover our sense of purpose as a nation,” he urged.

His comments have struck a chord with many Nigerians who feel abandoned by a political class perceived to be more interested in self-enrichment than in public service. The image of a government acquiring fleets of SUVs and private jets while the majority of citizens struggle for daily survival has become emblematic of the inequality and injustice that pervade public life.

As the economic challenges deepen and public frustration mounts, Utomi’s voice joins a chorus of thought leaders and activists urging immediate and meaningful reform. Whether the political elite will heed these warnings remains uncertain, but what is clear is that time is running out. The longer these structural and moral failures go unaddressed, the more difficult it will become to restore stability, trust, and hope in Nigeria’s future.