HURIWA Rejects ‘Imo Inspiring’ Assessment, Demands Reality Check Beyond Government House

PRESS STATEMENT

HURIWA Rejects ‘Imo Inspiring’ Assessment, Demands Reality Check Beyond Government House

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rejected as shallow, politically convenient and lacking sufficient grassroots context the reported assessment of Imo State by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.
HURIWA says the description of Imo State as “inspiring” cannot reasonably represent the reality of millions of residents unless the assessment was based on a much broader engagement with communities across the state.
According to reports of the UN delegation’s visit to Governor Hope Uzodimma at the Government House in Owerri, Mohammed said:
“What I saw in Imo is inspiring,” the UN Deputy Secretary-General stated, expressing optimism over the rapid progress recorded in youth development and technological empowerment.
She was also reported as saying that “Imo State’s strategic investments in education, digital skills, power infrastructure, and administrative reforms are creating competitive enterprises, productive jobs, and resilient communities.” The delegation further highlighted the need to strengthen energy systems, expand access to climate finance and build supply chains linking local producers to broader markets.
HURIWA says these observations make it even more important to establish the geographical and social scope of the delegation’s assessment.
The rights group therefore asks a fundamental question: Did the UN delegation engage directly with ordinary residents in Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri zones before arriving at such a sweeping conclusion about the state?
HURIWA says a visit centred largely on Government House presentations, meetings with government officials and selected beneficiaries cannot, by itself, provide a comprehensive picture of the living conditions of the people.
The association challenges the UN delegation to explain whether it visited rural communities in Okigwe Senatorial District where residents have continued to raise concerns over inadequate infrastructure, access to healthcare, electricity, potable water, rural roads and security.
HURIWA says the development narrative presented to the delegation must be tested against the experiences of people living in communities where basic public services remain inadequate.
Did the delegation visit the rural communities where people struggle daily to access primary healthcare? Did it speak to families who lack reliable electricity and potable water? Did it inspect rural roads and assess the security situation outside the government-controlled urban centres?
The association says these are critical questions that should precede any broad conclusion about the state’s development trajectory.
HURIWA is particularly concerned about the security situation in parts of Imo State and allegations that some communities, especially in parts of Okigwe zone, continue to experience the disruptive presence of armed non-state actors and inadequate governmental and security presence.
The association says development cannot be measured only by digital training programmes, economic initiatives or government buildings when citizens in some communities allegedly remain exposed to insecurity and lack basic social infrastructure.
HURIWA also draws attention to reports and findings by human-rights organisations, including Amnesty International, concerning alleged abuses and violations linked to security operations in parts of the South-East.
The association says any credible assessment of Imo State should examine both the achievements claimed by the government and the complaints of citizens who allege violations, insecurity and deprivation.
HURIWA therefore questions the geographical and social scope of the UN delegation’s engagement.
Where exactly did the delegation go in Imo State? Which rural communities did it visit? How many ordinary residents were interviewed independently of government officials? How many victims of insecurity, unemployment, poor healthcare and infrastructure deficits were given an opportunity to tell their stories?
The association says these questions are important because development assessment should not become a ceremony in which government officials present their achievements to international visitors without an equally rigorous examination of conditions at the grassroots.
HURIWA acknowledges that digital skills, youth empowerment, energy projects, healthcare reforms and economic diversification are legitimate areas of development. However, it insists that such initiatives must ultimately be measured by their impact on ordinary citizens.
The association also cautions against allowing carefully packaged government presentations to substitute for independent assessment.
If thousands of young people have indeed been trained, HURIWA says the relevant question is how many have obtained sustainable employment or established viable businesses. If hundreds of enterprises have been created, the question is whether they remain operational and profitable. If healthcare investments have been made, the question is whether rural residents can actually access functional primary healthcare facilities.
Similarly, HURIWA says claims about energy expansion must be tested against the reality of communities still struggling with electricity and basic infrastructure.
The association therefore urges the United Nations and other international development partners to conduct independent, community-level assessments before endorsing sweeping narratives about governance and development in any Nigerian state.
HURIWA warns that international institutions risk losing credibility when their assessments appear to rely disproportionately on official presentations rather than independent engagement with citizens.
“The people of Imo State deserve development, security, healthcare, infrastructure and decent livelihoods. They also deserve to have their realities heard directly, not filtered through official briefings.”
HURIWA calls on the UN to deepen its engagement with communities across Imo State and publish evidence-based assessments that capture both government achievements and the concerns of citizens.
The association maintains that genuine development is not merely what government officials say has been achieved. It is what citizens can see, access, afford and experience in their daily lives.

Signed,
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
14th September, 2026