Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over a report by ActionAid/Plan International, which revealed that over 80 million Nigerian youths are unemployed.

In a post on his verified X handle on Tuesday, Obi described the report as a damning indictment of Nigeria’s leadership and economic policies.

He noted that Nigeria ranks highest in the world in absolute youth unemployment, highlighting that South Africa, with a 60% youth unemployment rate and around 6 million jobless youths, still has more than 70 million fewer unemployed youths than Nigeria.

Obi argued that such a scale of joblessness is not a youth problem but a leadership failure, blaming political greed and mismanagement for the crisis.

“Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in the world, with roughly 75% under the age of 35. This should make youth employment a national emergency,” he said.

He criticized the government for wasteful spending, corruption, unproductive borrowing, and policies that shrink opportunities, leaving Nigerian youths vulnerable to exploitation and social vices.

Obi emphasized that the nation does not lack talented and resourceful youths, but rather leaders who prioritize job creation and investment in productive sectors.

“We need leadership that sees youths as the engine of national growth and prioritizes deliberate investments, transparency, and policies that empower citizens,” he wrote.

He urged Nigerian youths to engage in politics and elect leaders who prioritize opportunities and empowerment, stressing that Nigeria deserves competent, credible, and compassionate leadership to unlock the potential of its young population.