Nollywood actress and activist Kate Henshaw voiced deep concerns about Nigeria’s economic hardships and the perceived disconnect between democratic governance and citizens’ welfare during a Democracy Day symposium in Lagos, organized by the June 12 Movement.
Henshaw, speaking on the panel “Democracy at 26: Gains and Gaps,” declared that “Nigerians are barely holding on” and that “our democracy is not being felt” amid rising poverty and unemployment. Her remarks, reported by Vanguard and The Sun, resonate with ongoing debates about the tangible benefits of Nigeria’s 26-year democratic journey, as economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu face scrutiny.
Henshaw highlighted the impact of fuel subsidy removal, which pushed petrol prices to ₦1,239 per litre by April 2025, and naira devaluation to ₦1,600/$1, exacerbating living costs, per the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). She criticized the slow implementation of palliatives, such as the ₦50,000 grants to 10,000 households, announced by the Ministry of Finance in 2024, noting delays reported by NEMA. “Democracy should mean prosperity, not survival,” she said, urging leaders to prioritize education and healthcare, citing Nigeria’s 20 million out-of-school children, per UNESCO. Henshaw, a UNICEF ambassador, referenced her advocacy for child rights, including 2024’s Sokoto orphanage visits, to underscore governance failures.
The symposium, attended by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saw varied responses. Sanwo-Olu defended Tinubu’s reforms, citing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway’s Phase 1 completion, per Leadership. PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba echoed Henshaw, demanding electoral transparency, per Punch. Civil society leader Auwal Rafsanjani of Transparency International called for anti-corruption measures, noting ₦7 trillion in subsidy savings, per the Ministry of Finance. The remarks, aired on Arise TV, align with Nigeria’s 32% inflation rate, per NBS, fueling calls for policy adjustments. Henshaw’s critique, a clarion call for inclusive governance, challenges Nigeria’s leaders to bridge the gap between democratic ideals and economic realities.