Ozekhome Warns Nigeria Is Showing Signs of a Failed State

Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has expressed deep concern that Nigeria is exhibiting clear symptoms of a failing nation, citing areas under the control of non-state actors—who issue identity cards, collect taxes, and hoist flags—as evidence of systemic breakdown.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ozekhome warned that “Nigeria is literally crumbling,” pointing to regions—particularly in Niger State and Borno—where non-state actors wield authority comparable to the government, raising concerns about sovereignty and order.
He stated, “One of the symptoms of a failed nation is when non-state actors possess equal or more potent power than the sovereign government… collecting taxes from the indigenes, issuing identity cards, planting their flags.”

Ozekhome urged Nigerians to convene a constitutional conference to address the erosion of state authority and to re-establish foundational democratic structures.

This warning follows earlier warnings from Ozekhome. In June 2025, he cautioned that Nigeria is drifting toward authoritarianism, mirroring a one-party state where dissent is stifled and political institutions are compromised. “In a one-party state, dictatorship reigns supreme… National Assembly pocketed, judiciary will be pocketed, and everybody will be saying ‘yes, yes, yes.’”

Previously, he had highlighted the critical role of an effective judiciary in preventing collapse, noting that dismantling the judicial arm could topple Nigeria “like a pack of cards.”

Chief Mike Ozekhome’s latest statement underscores how deepening insecurity and the territorial influence of non-state actors threaten Nigeria’s integrity. By warning of failing state dynamics, he implores both citizens and leadership to engage in a constitutional reckoning—a move he argues is essential to restoring governance, rule of law, and national cohesion.