Sixty-six years after Nigeria’s independence, the nation stays an enormous nonetheless crawling below the burden of financial hardship, non secular and ethnic bigotry, systemic corruption, insecurity and a flawed political system, Davidson Iriekpen writes
Last Thursday, Nigeria marked her 66 years of independence from British colonial rule. It was marked by the standard custom of providing particular prayers in mosques and church buildings throughout the nation for peace, unity, and nationwide stability.
President Bola Tinubu used the event to acknowledge a few of the issues of the nation, and vowed to deal with them, particularly the exacerbating poverty.
Over a number of many years, Nigeria’s historical past has been characterised by democracy, financial prowess, navy takeovers, civil struggle, corruption, and protests amid the try for improvement throughout governance, schooling, well being, infrastructure, international relations and safety.
While a substantial a part of Nigeria’s journey of statehood witnessed navy rule, the return to democracy didn’t convey the much-desired improvement that may make the folks completely satisfied and provides them the peace of mind that there’s hope within the horizon.
No doubt the nation celebrated the 66th anniversary at a troublesome second for a lot of households. Despite the federal authorities’s emphasis on financial reforms, poverty, meals insecurity and stress on family incomes stay severe considerations.
For occasion, in June, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that 63 per cent of Nigerians had been residing under the nationwide poverty line, whereas an estimated 27 million Nigerians confronted meals insecurity in late 2025.
Once nicknamed the “Giant of Africa,” Nigeria had as soon as upon a time stood out for its spectacular figures – inhabitants, landmass, language variety, financial potential, and ample pure sources – placing it forward of most different African nations. Over time, nevertheless, many of those figures have diminished when considered by way of the info lens.
Comparisons with different international locations reveal Nigeria’s stunted development. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea, which shared the identical ranges of financial indices within the Sixties, have develop into industrial and financial powerhouses.
At the guts of the paradox is the nation’s lengthy historical past of missed alternatives. A nation endowed with oil, fuel, fertile land, minerals, and some of the vibrant youth populations on the planet has repeatedly fallen wanting expectations.
While crude oil revenues as soon as promised prosperity, the overreliance on petroleum exports stunted diversification.
Manufacturing stays shallow, at the moment contributing a median of three per cent to the nation’s GDP; agriculture is undercapitalised, and infrastructure gaps restrict productiveness.
At the identical time, infrastructural improvement stays stunted, particularly in essential areas like electrical energy, healthcare, and transportation. Despite its oil wealth, Nigeria generates simply 4,000 to five,000 MW of electrical energy, far under the demand of over 28,000 MW for a inhabitants of over 200 million folks. This has left tens of millions with out dependable energy, stunting financial development and productiveness.
Energy poverty stays considered one of Nigeria’s most urgent but under-discussed challenges. This concern permeates each aspect of Nigerian life, and its impression reverberates all through the economic system. Energy prosperity is essential for any nation aiming for improvement.
Additionally, healthcare stays underfunded and understaffed, with Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio standing at one physician per 5,000 residents, far under the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice of 1 physician per 600 residents.
Sixty-six years after independence, Nigeria’s deplorable roads, insufficient seaports and different failed infrastructure are a mirrored image of a failing state.
Despite current anti-corruption drives, corruption continues to plague Nigeria at each stage of presidency. The nation has continued to rank poorly in successive Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Indexes. Elites siphon public funds whereas important companies stay underfunded, leaving the populace to endure the implications.
As inflation rises, so does the price of residing, making important items and companies more and more unaffordable for the common Nigerian. The value of every little thing, from bread to transportation, is not directly linked to the price of power.
Insecurity has deepened the hardship dealing with Nigerians, with hundreds killed and kidnapped annually for greater than a decade. The North stays the worst affected, however the ripple results are more and more being felt throughout the South.
For over 15 years, the North-east has battled Boko Haram and ISWAP, whereas teams resembling Mahmuda, Lakurawa, Ansaru and al-Shabaab have emerged or gained floor in different elements of the nation. Marauding bandits have additionally continued to assault communities, kidnap residents for ransom and loot property.
The penalties are far-reaching. Farmers wrestle to entry their fields, highways have develop into hazard zones, and kidnapping has advanced right into a thriving felony enterprise. For many households, day by day life is now marked by the worry of abductions, raids and killings, additional worsening poverty and hardship.
While Nigerians grapple with these challenges, the federal government reveals little signal of decreasing its bills. The value of governance in Nigeria stays among the many highest on the planet, with legislators among the many best-paid public officers globally; setting world data solely in lavish expenditure. Despite guarantees of fiscal self-discipline, authorities spending continues unabated, with few, if any, sacrifices from the ruling elite.
The disparity between the struggling of the plenty and the opulence of these in energy is a evident contradiction that erodes the belief between the ruled and the federal government.
Another essential concern that is still unresolved after 66 years, is the absence of free and honest elections. Despite many years of guarantees and reforms, the nation has but to realize the electoral requirements befitting a real democracy. Irregularities have continued to mar successive elections.
At every election cycle, billions of naira are spent in preparation for the polls that solely produce fraudulent outcomes.
The aftermath of every election cycle sees a surge in court docket circumstances, as quite a few candidates problem the outcomes. While it isn’t dangerous for the courts develop into the final resort for resolving electoral disputes, it’s nevertheless unhappy that they’ve additionally develop into the first avenue for figuring out election outcomes.
One of the elemental flaws in Nigeria’s electoral system is the shortage of a runoff provision for candidates who fail to safe at least 50% of the vote. This loophole permits candidates to imagine workplace with solely a fraction of the inhabitants’s assist, making a weak mandate.
Compounding this drawback is the failure to resolve election disputes earlier than swearing in elected officers. Governors, lawmakers, and even the president usually take workplace whereas their election outcomes are nonetheless being contested in courts. This scenario offers the incumbent an undue benefit, and locations the opposition at a big drawback, additional undermining the credibility of the electoral course of.
Nigeria is a good nation however her potential stays untapped. (*66*) 66 years of independence, her progress is hampered by financial hardship, tribalism, systemic corruption, insecurity and a flawed political system.
It is time for the nation to redefine its path and set a course for true independence that uplifts its folks and fosters sustainable improvement.
For many who’ve witnessed the nation’s 66-year journey from Independence, every little thing appears to be happening, with little hope for the brand new generations.
This is why the leaders should transcend their traditional platitudes and enthrone the tradition of real commitments to constructing a rustic the place democracy interprets into safety, dignity, financial alternative, accountable governance and a greater high quality of life for all Nigerians.
