Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed plans to travel to the United States, where he intends to engage policymakers and institutional stakeholders on Nigeria’s worsening security situation, economic strain, and governance challenges.
The visit, according to a statement issued on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, is aimed at drawing global attention to what Atiku described as a deepening national emergency.
Explaining the rationale behind the trip, the former vice president said Nigeria is currently facing a “full-blown internal crisis” that should no longer be trivialised or politicised.
“From the ravaging violence in the North-West and North-East, to the persistent bloodshed in the Middle Belt, and the growing spread of kidnapping and criminality across the country, Atiku warns that the Nigerian state is steadily losing its grip on its most fundamental responsibility: the protection of lives and property.
“According to him, the situation has moved beyond isolated incidents to a pattern of systemic failure. Communities are being overrun, livelihoods destroyed, and citizens abandoned to their fate.
“He argues that any government that cannot guarantee basic security forfeits the moral basis of its mandate,” the statement read.
On the economic front, Atiku pointed to intensifying hardship across the country, citing inflationary pressures, a weakening currency, and reduced purchasing power as major concerns affecting millions of Nigerians.
“He notes that rising inflation, a weakened currency, and collapsing purchasing power have pushed millions into distress, while policy inconsistency and lack of strategic direction continue to erode confidence in the economy,” the statement said.
The former vice president also raised concerns about the health of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning that declining trust in governance, accountability, and electoral processes could pose risks to national cohesion.
“As the country moves toward another election cycle, he insists that any attempt to undermine transparency or manipulate outcomes will carry serious consequences for both unity and legitimacy,” the statement said.
Responding to potential criticism over engaging international actors, Atiku dismissed suggestions that such efforts amount to external interference in Nigeria’s affairs.
“Atiku is unequivocal: telling the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic. He rejects the notion that engaging global partners amounts to inviting foreign interference, stressing that Nigeria does not exist in isolation and cannot pretend that its internal failures have no external implications.
“He maintains that the world already sees what is happening; the real question is whether Nigerian leaders are prepared to confront it honestly.
“He reiterates that only Nigerians will decide Nigeria’s leadership, but insists that international partners have a legitimate interest in the stability, governance standards, and democratic health of a country as strategically important as Nigeria,” the statement said.
In a direct message to the current administration, Atiku called on the government to “urgently reset its priorities,” restore public trust, and present a credible roadmap to tackle insecurity and economic instability.
He also urged citizens to remain vigilant and demand accountability from those in power, emphasizing that sustainable change must be driven internally.
Describing the country as being at a turning point, Atiku said Nigeria requires “courage, honesty, and decisive leadership” to prevent further deterioration.
The planned trip comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections. Atiku, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007, recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after years of internal challenges and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a broader opposition alignment.
The ADC itself has been contending with internal leadership disputes and factional tensions in recent times.
It will be recalled that Atiku recently engaged the Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., under a $1.2 million contract aimed at enhancing his international profile and influencing policy perceptions in the United States.
