Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) and a founding figure of Nigeria’s Pentecostal movement, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, has urged the government to address the nation’s worsening economic situation, calling it a “state of emergency.”
Speaking at a recent public forum, Okonkwo emphasized that Nigerians have no alternative country to turn to.
“Nigeria is our birthplace, and we trust God that our dreams and desires concerning Nigeria will be accomplished.
It would be irresponsible to sit back without lending our voices to issues that are obvious to us,” he said.
The cleric highlighted rising living costs, inadequate social services, and widespread poverty. “People are virtually crying; some are eating from the dustbin in a nation so endowed by God,” he said.
He described electricity, healthcare, water, education, and internal road networks as critically deficient, noting that universities lack basic infrastructure and hospitals have become “death traps.”
Okonkwo criticized the disconnect between government leaders and grassroots realities.
He warned that low wages, corruption, and inequality are driving crime, including banditry.
“A hungry man is an angry man,” he said, adding that the current minimum wage of 70,000 naira is insufficient to cover rent, fuel, and basic living costs.
While acknowledging that economic challenges predate the current administration, the bishop stressed the urgency of immediate intervention.
He also criticized lavish government convoys, saying resources could be better spent on public welfare.
“These issues are not something we should sleep over,” he said. “More money is being allocated to states than ever before. The question is, where is it going?”
Okonkwo concluded by calling for collective responsibility from both government and citizens to address Nigeria’s pressing economic and social challenges.
