By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rejected the reported assessment by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed that what she saw in Imo State was “inspiring”, saying the assessment did not sufficiently reflect the realities faced by residents across the state.

In a statement dated September 14, 2026 and signed by its National Coordinator, HURIWA said an assessment based largely on government presentations and selected engagements could not provide a complete picture of living conditions across Imo State, particularly in communities outside the state capital.

HURIWA questioned whether the UN delegation had direct engagements with ordinary residents across the Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri zones before reaching its reported assessment.

Mohammed was reported to have said, “What I saw in Imo is inspiring,” while also highlighting what she described as the state’s strategic investments in education, digital skills, power infrastructure and administrative reforms.

According to HURIWA, however, such achievements should be assessed alongside the everyday experiences of residents, particularly those in rural communities who may still face difficulties accessing basic infrastructure and social services.

The group asked whether the delegation visited rural communities in the Okigwe area where, according to its statement, residents continue to raise concerns about inadequate infrastructure, healthcare, electricity, potable water, rural roads and security.

HURIWA also raised concerns about alleged activities of armed non-state actors and what it described as inadequate security presence in parts of Okigwe, while referring to reports by Amnesty International concerning alleged abuses linked to security operations in the South-East.

The rights group said, “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.”

It further argued that “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 said it was not opposed to recognising genuine progress in Imo State but called for independent, community-level assessments that would give ordinary residents an opportunity to speak about their experiences.

“If thousands of young people have indeed been trained, if productive jobs are being created and if communities are becoming more resilient, then those achievements should be visible and verifiable at the grassroots,” the group said.

HURIWA added: “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.”

The organisation warned that international institutions could risk their credibility if assessments of development were based disproportionately on official presentations without sufficient engagement with communities.

“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,” HURIWA said.