Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has described President Bola Tinubu's two years in office as a "colossal failure," accusing the administration of economic mismanagement, misplaced priorities, and worsening national security.

In a statement released via his official X handle on Thursday to mark Tinubu's second anniversary as Nigeria's 16th president, Sowore criticized the government's handling of the economy, infrastructure projects, fuel subsidy reforms, and security challenges.

"Today marks Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's second year in office as President," Sowore wrote. "A President who takes two years to build just 30km of highway on the 700 km Lagos-Calabar highway project is a FAILURE."

The former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) particularly highlighted the depreciation of the Nigerian currency under Tinubu's administration, stating: "A man who met the other exchange rate at N400 and pushed it to N1,600 is a FAILURE!" This references the current parallel market exchange rates that have raised concerns about the country's fiscal policies and inflationary pressures.

Subsidy Removal and Security Concerns

On the controversial removal of fuel subsidies, Sowore argued that the policy disproportionately hurt ordinary Nigerians while benefits continued to flow to the political elite. "A man who ended the petrol subsidy for people with low incomes but still subsidizes corrupt government officials and lawmakers in the name of budget padding is a FAILURE!" he said.

Sowore also accused Tinubu of allowing the spread of Boko Haram from Nigeria's northeastern states of Borno and Yobe into the North Central state of Kogi, raising concerns about the deteriorating security situation across the country.

"A man who met Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe but let them move down south to Kogi is a FAILURE," he stated.

While government spokespersons have highlighted progress in infrastructure, investment inflows, and fiscal reforms, critics like Sowore argue that these reforms lack transparency and disproportionately favor the elite while worsening conditions for average Nigerians.

The statement comes as President Tinubu marks two years since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, with mixed reviews of his administration's performance across various sectors of the Nigerian economy and society.