The National Youth Stakeholders Forum has issued a strong statement rejecting manipulation by the current administration while warning the opposition against spreading misinformation, as the group demanded full disclosure of the recent security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
In a statement titled “Between Principle and Power: A Statement on Patriotism, Policy, and the Path Forward for Nigeria,” released on 23rd February 2026, the NYSF expressed deep concern over what it described as the systematic absorption of youth organizations under the incumbent administration.
The statement, written and signed by National Publicity Director Amb. Olugbenga George, declared that the forum refuses to be a rubber stamp, emphasizing that its members came to Abuja to engage power critically, not to clap for it. The forum warned youth leaders against trading their constituency’s voice for proximity to power, stating that any leader who does so has betrayed their generation.
Turning to the opposition, the NYSF cautioned against dangerous narratives, accusing opposition voices of weaponizing misinformation and painting every action of the Tinubu administration with the same brush of failure. The forum described this approach as political opportunism dressed in opposition garb, not patriotism, and urged the opposition to hold the government accountable with facts rather than fabrications. It stressed that Nigerians deserve the truth, not the convenience of whichever side is telling it.
Regarding the Tinubu administration, the NYSF acknowledged several efforts to address national challenges, particularly the evolving security collaboration with the United States. The forum commended the strategic intelligence behind this engagement, noting that President Tinubu inherited a fraught relationship with the US and through calculated engagement secured the deployment of 100 US military personnel and significant arms consignment to train Nigerian forces and contain rising insecurity.
However, the forum emphasized that acknowledgment is not endorsement and that praise must not preclude scrutiny. The NYSF demanded transparency, questioning why the terms and rules of engagement between Nigeria and the United States have not been made public, a situation it described as unacceptable.
The forum posed critical questions demanding answers from the government, including the full scope of this collaboration, the duration of US military presence in Nigeria, what Nigeria is offering in exchange, and how the nation can ensure this intervention does not compromise sovereignty or lead to long-term entanglement like Iraq and Afghanistan. It described these as questions of sovereignty and survival.
The NYSF called on the Federal Government to immediately disclose the full terms of engagement with the United States, specify the duration of US military presence, clarify reciprocal obligations of the Nigerian state, and ensure parliamentary oversight before any extension of this partnership. The statement stressed that transparency is not a favor to the opposition but a right of the Nigerian people.
The forum reiterated its commitment to support where support is due, reprimand where necessary, remain independent from political capture, and amplify the voice of ordinary Nigerians. It declared that its members are not in Abuja to cheerlead or obstruct but to serve with integrity and courage.
Addressing Nigerian youth directly, the NYSF urged them not to lose hope, focus, or voice, acknowledging that the road ahead is long but emphasizing that if they organize, speak with one voice, and refuse to be bought or silenced, they will shape the future they deserve.
