Independence Day Celebration

By Uzair Adam 

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, October 1, 2026, a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani.

Tunji-Ojo congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad on the anniversary and urged citizens to use the occasion to promote national unity, patriotism, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.

The minister stressed that peace and stability remained essential to the country’s development, urging Nigerians to uphold the values of love for the nation demonstrated by the country’s founding fathers.

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we should always remember that there is hope for our country and our diversity is our strength, and our collective determination remains the foundation upon which a stronger and more prosperous nation will be built,” he said.

He assured citizens that the Federal Government remained committed to strengthening national security, improving public safety and creating an enabling environment where Nigerians could live, work and pursue their legitimate aspirations with confidence.

According to him, the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda would continue to focus on building a better Nigeria for all citizens.

Tunji-Ojo further called on Nigerians to use the independence celebration to reaffirm their commitment to national unity, peaceful coexistence and the collective progress of the country.

By Muhammad Sagir Bauchi

It has been three years since I last put pen to paper for public reading. That last article, published in July 2023, examined the new economic policies of the present administration: subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and student loans, through the lens of Keynes’ warning that “in the long run, we are all dead.” I argued then that these reforms, though painful, could pay off over time, while cautioning that fairness in how the pain and the palliatives were distributed would determine whether Nigerians trusted the process. Three years on, I return to ask the question those reforms were always going to face: has the long run arrived, and for whom?

Six years ago, I wrote an article titled, “Nigeria At 60: A Moment Of Joy Or A Moment Of Sober Reflection?” In it, I reflected on our journey since independence, the challenges we had faced, and the questions surrounding our progress as a country. Six years later, Nigeria is 66, and the question remains almost the same: is this a moment of joy, a moment of sober reflection, or perhaps both?

Since independence, Nigeria has gone through different political administrations, military interventions, democratic transitions, economic reforms, and countless attempts to solve the problems confronting it. We have built universities, colleges, hospitals and roads. Millions of Nigerians have acquired education and gone on to make meaningful contributions to the country and the world. There is certainly a lot to celebrate. But while celebrating our achievements, we must also have the courage to ask where we have failed, where we are today, and where we are heading.

A country can record economic growth while millions of its citizens continue to struggle with the cost of living. Economic reforms may be necessary, but that does not mean we should ignore the short-term hardship they create. Government may point to improving figures, but ordinary Nigerians are equally justified in asking when those improvements will begin to show up in their daily lives. Why celebrate GDP growth or falling inflation on paper while paying little attention to the struggles of the ordinary man whose reality reflects neither? Economic growth should not only be measured by what the figures say; it should be reflected in what people can afford, the jobs they can find, the businesses they can sustain and the quality of life they can provide for their families.

It is no longer news that petrol sells for about ₦1,400 per litre in parts of Lagos and around ₦1,500 in parts of the North. This is no longer a figure in newspapers or a talking point on social media; it is a living reality Nigerians are struggling to adapt to. Today, even people fortunate enough to own a car are becoming careful about where and when they drive. Some now choose the inconvenience of public transport not because they lack a vehicle, but because fuelling it has become too costly. A car that was once a convenience has, for some families, become an expense they must calculate before every journey.

Since the removal of the petrol subsidy, several policies have been introduced to cushion the effects of the reform. Yet from the perspective of the ordinary citizen, it is difficult to point to a corresponding drop in hardship. Nigerians are not asking for suffering to be eradicated overnight; they are asking for a meaningful reduction in the burden they carry daily. The real question is not whether the reforms were necessary, but whether the people bearing their immediate cost are beginning to see the promised benefits. A reform can be economically necessary and still be socially painful, and when that pain continues without improvement in people’s standard of living, government must expect citizens to ask hard questions.

Since independence, Nigeria has also built numerous institutions of learning, and millions of Nigerians have benefited from them. To follow the path of developed nations, the concept of education loans was introduced. In an ideal society, this can be a smart move, shifting the burden of financing higher education from parents to government, with students eventually repaying the cost. But what pushed us here in the first place? The same government policies that have left many parents living hand to mouth, with little or nothing to save for their children’s education. What they earn is often barely enough to cover food, shelter and other basics- things people now struggle to afford rather than plan for.

Can we truly celebrate a policy that pushes parents deeper into poverty while leaving them unable to afford their children’s education? More importantly, how many graduates can be certain there will be jobs waiting for them, jobs that let them repay what they borrowed? What happens when a graduate leaves school with a degree and a loan but no employment opportunities? What happens when companies close because policies make it hard to do business, or when entrepreneurs are forced to shut their doors because of low sales and rising costs?

Education loans may provide access to education, but access alone is not enough. There must also be an economy that gives graduates decent opportunities to work, earn, and repay. Otherwise, are we simply shifting the burden from parents who cannot afford education to graduates who may never find the jobs needed to carry it?

This brings us back to leadership. Six years ago, I argued that one of Nigeria’s major problems was how political leadership was perceived and exercised, a system where public office could become a means of personal advancement rather than service. Six years later, that question remains just as relevant. Leadership is not only about making policy; it is about understanding how policy affects the people who must live with it. The ordinary citizen does not experience an economic reform as a policy document; he experiences it through the price of food, transport, school fees, rent and electricity. Leadership must go beyond celebrating figures and ask whether its policies are producing a society in which ordinary Nigerians can live with dignity.

One issue I raised six years ago was vote buying. It is easy to condemn citizens who accept money during elections, but perhaps we should ask a harder question first. When people who once fought a previous administration on grounds of incompetence are now in government, defending the very policies that have subjected Nigerians to severe hardship, can we genuinely expect citizens to reject ₦5,000 or ₦10,000 when many are struggling to put food on the table? This is not an argument for vote buying; it is a question about the conditions that make it possible. A citizen who cannot afford food, medicine or transport is more vulnerable to financial incentives at the polls. That does not make vote buying right, but it should push us to examine the poverty that allows it to thrive. If we want citizens to make truly independent choices, we must build a society where poverty does not make those choices easier to manipulate.

Corruption remains one of Nigeria’s oldest struggles. We have created institutions, passed laws and established agencies to fight it, yet the perception that public resources are sometimes diverted for personal or political gain continues to shape public trust. What makes this worse is our own double standard: when a politician from the opposing party is accused, we demand accountability; when someone from our own camp faces the same allegation, the conversation quietly changes. We cannot build a strong country by applying different standards to the same behaviour based on political affiliation. Accountability cannot be selective.

Insecurity, too, was already a major concern six years ago, and it remains one today; its nature and location may shift, but the consequences are just as painful. Families are displaced, businesses suffer, farmers cannot operate freely in some areas, and young people grow up with insecurity as part of everyday conversation. A country cannot achieve sustainable development when its citizens constantly worry about their safety; security is directly tied to agriculture, education, business, investment, and general well-being.

Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in Africa, an enormous potential advantage that becomes a burden when the economy cannot provide enough opportunity. Every year, thousands of graduates leave school hoping to find work, and many spend years searching, turning to entrepreneurship, migration or whatever else they can find. The rising desire among young Nigerians to leave the country, popularly called “Japa”, should make us ask why so many feel their future lies elsewhere. It is not enough to tell them to stay and build the country; we must create conditions that make staying a realistic, attractive choice.

Education remains one of the most important investments any country can make, yet Nigeria continues to face disruptions, prolonged strikes, and other setbacks that affect students and institutions. We cannot claim to be developing while young people spend years moving in and out of classrooms over problems that better planning, funding and dialogue could resolve.

So, are we better off than we were at independence? In some areas, certainly. We have more institutions, more educated Nigerians, greater access to technology, a larger private sector, and Nigerians making remarkable contributions around the world. But progress should not blind us to what remains broken. Nigeria is not a complete failure, just as it is not a complete success story; our story is more complicated than either label. We have achievements worth celebrating and failures that demand honest reflection. We celebrate Nigerians’ resilience, but we should also ask why they need to be so resilient just to survive.

Patriotism doesn’t mean defending every government policy, and criticism doesn’t mean hating one’s country. Sometimes, asking difficult questions is itself an act of patriotism.

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, we should celebrate what we have achieved, remember how far we have come, and, most importantly, have the courage to confront what still holds us back. The Nigeria we want will not be built by government alone. It requires responsible leadership, accountable institutions, an active citizenry, and a society that values merit, justice and equal opportunity.

At 66, Nigeria has every reason to celebrate. But it also has every reason to reflect.

By Bilyamin Abdulmumin, PhD

One of my grandfather’s wives, Hajiya Ba’u, survived to live with us till last year, when she passed away. She was fond of sharing history, and in me she found a devoted student. One particular period stuck with her was the early years of her marriage, which was a few years before Nigerian Independence. She once narrated to me how oranges and bananas were considered costly gifts at the time. They only got to see such fruits when my grandfather travelled to Ibadan; these fruits were shared meticulously, as they were seen once in a blue moon.

These fruits, which were once rare luxuries, have now become common in every household, regardless of the season. One can wake up at any odd hour, walk to the main street, and easily find them. Both oranges and bananas are now available in many varieties. The sweetest orange is Dan Boko, named after its place of origin, while the sweetest banana is the variety known as Senior; it has a taste beyond ordinary bananas. Beyond oranges and bananas, fruits like apples, pineapples, and coconuts have also become ubiquitous, and the richness of fruits reaches its peak in the form of fruit salad. People of the 1960s could only dream of fruit salad in Heaven.

Hajiya Ba’u also mentioned that soap was a rare luxury in those days, and they would only use it once in a while. The equivalent of soap, if I didn’t forget, is Bagaruwa (Gum Arabic tree); the pods and bark of this tree contains substance called saponins, like in the case of sodium salts of fatty acids of modern soap, the hydrophobic part of the saponins binds to oils on skin, clothes, or utensils while hydrophilic part binds to water, this creates micelles, which trap dirt and wash them away. Some rural areas still use Bagaruwa as a means of cleaning. In other words, these rural areas are just as advanced as my community of the 1960s. This is why going to rural areas is reminiscent of time-travelling.

Today, whether it’s table soap or liquid soap, it comes in various types, sizes, colours, and fragrances. My memory was reset in 2019 when I lodged at Hotel 17 in Kaduna. There, I saw just how far the customisation of everyday items had gone: single-use soaps, single-use rubbing Vaseline, single-use sugar, single-use perfume, milk, and more. People of the 1960s would think such convenience could only be found in Heaven.

My grandma was also nostalgic about the advancement of packaging. Polyethene (black nylon, etc) was non-existent in those days, so instead they used Tumfafiya—a broad leaf large enough to serve as a wrapper. In fact, I myself bought zogale da kuli (Moringa oleifera and groundnut cake) wrapped in Tumfafiya. In a chemical process called polymerisation, thousands of two-carbon alcohols (ethylene) are woven together to form polyethene. That is more or less like laying thousands of bricks together to make a block. Thanks to the Polyethene revolution, it has now taken over, from shopping bags to “leda” bags, “Santana” bags, water sachets, milk sachets, and stretch wraps in different sizes, brands, and designs. Our packaging revolution extends to cardboard boxes, aluminium foils, plastic containers, and resealable pouches. Those living in the 1960s could only have been left speechless.

Far back in the 1960s, donkeys and camels were the standard vehicles. So, when my Fiqh Sheikh travelled to Zamfara in the 2000s, we only closed for one day. He reminded us that in earlier times, such a journey would have required at least two weeks. Similarly, cellular communication, once a dream of the 1960s, now happens in a split second. One day in the lab, a colleague, who was fond of observing social change, sent a message to England using his mobile phone. Our conversation would revolve around the miracle: the efficiency of sending the message at a negligible cost of only about ten naira.

The paradox is this: even as social change is undeniable in contemporary Nigeria, the strength of our institutions has nosedived and been reversed. A small clinic in a district in the 1960s would treat patients better than what is obtainable in our modern general hospitals. Teachers, even at the primary school level, were treated like kings. We are still in touch with the rural communities my father taught in the seventies and eighties. In one viral clip, late former President Buhari recalled how immediately after secondary school graduation, he was offered a managerial job, a new motorbike, and a competitive salary. 

Late Chief Audu Ogbe, in a Daily Trust reminiscence, noted that in the 1960s, the Central Government even borrowed from the Native Authorities, which now became local government authorities. A former permanent secretary from Kebbi State once told me how, during his days at ABU in the 1980s, students had meal tickets and even their clothes washed. All these examples point to one fact: institutions were working then.

With remarkable social change beyond recognition and technological advancement beyond imagination, if our institutional trajectory is redirected, Nigeria could go to the moon.

Happy Independence Day.

By Muhammad Umar Shehu

As Nigeria clocks 65 years of independence, one would expect a moment of pride and reflection on remarkable achievements. Yet, the reality on the ground tells a different story. 

The country continues to struggle with corruption, poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, and a range of other social issues. These issues cut deep into the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians, making access to basic necessities and opportunities for growth a constant struggle.

For many citizens, there is little reason to roll out the drums. Independence anniversaries are usually a time for celebration, but how can we truly celebrate when millions remain jobless, when insecurity still holds communities hostage, when hospitals lack basic equipment, and when roads remain death traps? The weight of these problems overshadows whatever progress has been made.

This does not mean Nigeria has no potential or that the sacrifices of our founding fathers should be ignored. Leaders like Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who gave Nigeria a voice of dignity on the global stage, or the Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, who worked to strengthen education and unity in the North, envisioned a better future for this country. 

Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy in the West and Chief MKO Abiola’s ultimate sacrifice for democracy remain powerful reminders of what true leadership and patriotism demand. These men stood for a Nigeria that could rise above selfishness and mediocrity.

But after 65 years, Nigerians deserve more than repeated promises and underdevelopment. We deserve a country where leadership prioritises people, where accountability is more than just a slogan, and where citizens can genuinely take pride in the flag they carry.

So, if there is something worth celebrating at 65, perhaps it is the resilience of Nigerians themselves —the spirit that refuses to give up despite everything. Beyond that, the truth is clear: the road ahead requires serious action, not mere rhetoric.

May Nigeria succeed and prosper. Amin.

Muhammad Umar Shehu, who wrote from Gombe, can be reached via umarmuhammadshehu2@gmail.com.

By Usman Muhammad Salihu and Muhammad Umar Shehu

As Nigeria celebrated its 64th independence anniversary a few weeks ago, it is essential to reflect on the nation’s potential and the persistent challenges that continue to hinder its progress. Despite being blessed with vast natural resources and a vibrant population of over 200 million people, Nigeria’s struggles have deepened rather than improved over the past year. From widespread poverty to increasing insecurity, the country’s path to growth remains uncertain unless urgent and substantial action is taken.

Poverty in Nigeria continues to be one of the most pressing challenges. A significant portion of the population, over 40%, still lives below the poverty line. As the cost of living soars and job opportunities remain scarce, millions of Nigerians find themselves trapped in cycles of deprivation. While government programs aimed at alleviating poverty have been implemented, the results have mainly been insufficient due to inefficiency, poor implementation, and corruption. 

The lack of job creation remains a critical concern. Despite having a young and dynamic population, many Nigerians face an uncertain future as there are not enough opportunities for them to contribute to the nation’s economic growth. The high unemployment rate, particularly among the youth, exacerbates feelings of hopelessness, contributing to social unrest.

Corruption continues to plague every sector of Nigerian society, from the public to the private sector. It has been described as a systemic problem deeply embedded in the fabric of governance, politics, and even business practices. Public funds for infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation are often diverted for personal gain, leaving the masses to suffer.

Though active in many areas, the fight against corruption has proven ineffective in bringing about substantial reform. The long-standing lack of political will and the entrenchment of corrupt practices ensure that those in power remain immune from real accountability. Until corruption is thoroughly tackled, Nigeria’s progress will continue to be hampered.

One of the most alarming issues Nigeria faces today is the increasing insecurity. What began as localised conflicts in specific regions has evolved into nationwide terror. Terrorist groups, bandits, and separatist movements are now operating with impunity across the country. The rise in violent crimes, abductions, and ethnic clashes has not only resulted in loss of lives but has also displaced millions, further straining the nation’s resources.

Investors remain wary of Nigeria’s unstable environment, while everyday Nigerians are forced to live in fear. Insecurity has undoubtedly slowed economic activity, as businesses are reluctant to set up or expand in areas prone to violence. The government’s inability to secure the nation and protect its citizens is a glaring failure that demands urgent attention.

The educational sector, too, is still struggling. Though the government has made some efforts to reform education, such initiatives have not yielded the desired results. The country’s education system remains underfunded and ill-equipped to handle the growing demands of a population that values knowledge and skills as the gateway to prosperity.

A critical shortage of teachers, infrastructure, and learning materials leaves millions of children and young adults without access to quality education. Many Nigerian students are forced to attend overcrowded classrooms, while those in rural areas often lack basic educational resources. The result is a generation of young people who are ill-prepared to face the challenges of the modern world.

Unemployment remains at an all-time high. The nation’s reliance on oil as its primary source of revenue has left it vulnerable to global price fluctuations, causing economic instability. Additionally, the lack of diversification into other sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, limits job creation.

Without a comprehensive economic overhaul focusing on sustainable development and the growth of non-oil sectors, Nigeria’s economy will continue to stagnate. The country must invest in infrastructure, create an environment that nurtures entrepreneurship, and promote policies that stimulate job creation.

The question is not whether Nigeria has the potential to be great but whether its leaders can rise to the occasion and make the necessary changes to unlock that potential. There is no shortage of resources in the country—natural, human, or financial. What is lacking is effective governance, transparency, and leadership that prioritises the needs of the people over personal gain.

The Nigerian government must take decisive action to address poverty, reduce corruption, enhance security, and overhaul the education system. Citizens, civil society organisations, and the private sector must also play their part by demanding accountability, fostering innovation, and supporting initiatives that contribute to national development.

At 64, Nigeria remains a land of possibilities. However, unless these challenges are addressed, the country will continue to suffer, and the future will remain uncertain. It is time for bold steps and concrete reforms to secure the next generation’s prosperous and peaceful future.

Usman Muhammad Salihu was among the pioneer cohorts of the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship, along with Muhammad Umar Shehu. They can be reached at muhammadu5363@gmail.com.

By Usman Zubairu Yakubu

On a day like this in 1960, Nigeria gained independence from Great Britain. But the question today is, is Nigeria an independent nation? I think the first and only Nigerian prime minister, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, during the 1960 independence speech, answered this question. He said, “Political independence is totally inadequate if it’s not accompanied by security and economic stability”.

From the above-quoted speech, I think that Nigeria’s independence is inadequate. For this reason, we must all put hands on deck to ensure we build a prosperous Nation that will fill the missing inadequacies. A safe country for all. This is our responsibility, my responsibility and your responsibility.

The decreasing numbers of celebrants on this day show that things are not working well in the country and that the drivers of the nation are not doing the necessary to bring back hope into the hearts of Nigerians. Many Nigerians have lost hope in the country; this may arise from the ugly condition of almost everything. They feel hopeless not because they don’t love the country but because the leaders made them feel that way. We may tag that as unfortunate, but the truth is always bitter, and that doesn’t make them less Nigerians because they have their reasons to feel so. The optimistic ones who believe that Nigeria will one day get better are only trying to be stronger. Count me among them; I hope the leaders will not kill our little hope for the country and its future.

Many things have happened in less than a year of Tinibus Administration. First, the subsidy removal imposed a lot of hardships on Nigerians. Second, Economic destruction left millions of Nigerians in abject poverty and the bedevilling issues of insecurities affecting the country, especially the Northern region of the country. And by mere looks, things are only getting worse, not better. The current abduction of the Federal University Gusau students is an alarming sign of left dust that needs to be cleaned. This is to talk less of the economic hardship Nigerians are going through.

In a situation like this, independent celebration shouldn’t be the focus of any sensible Nigerian. On every blessed day in the country, Bandits kidnapped people, some killed, and some thrown out of their homes. Many Of the victims were left homeless. Go to the streets of Katsina, Zamfara and Borno to have a glance. Is this what we are celebrating? I believe independence under insecurity, corruption and poverty shouldn’t be celebrated. Until these issues are addressed, we will celebrate Nigeria’s independence with true love and patriotism. But at the moment, we don’t have the energy to celebrate.  

In a country where over 40% are living in abject poverty. And 63% are dimensionally poor as of 2022. This is before subsidy removal; how many per cent will now be in poverty as the economy shakes? Tell me, should we celebrate poverty? Or should we celebrate insecurity at the moment? Unfortunately, the future of Nigeria is gloomy as its youth remains jobless. Should we celebrate unemployment? In a country where justice is abolished, is that one country to celebrate? In a country where tertiary education is on the verge of becoming a privilege and not a right, please tell me, should we celebrate that country? In a country where the leaders don’t care about the educational future of its citizens, is that one country to celebrate? In a country where a man can’t afford healthcare, food, and life necessities, is that a country to celebrate now? Nigeria’s problem is far beyond what one can imagine. At this moment, celebration is not for us but rather a critical way of thinking about building a prosperous nation because it’s possible.

But despite all the challenges, I  believe Nigeria shall prosper, and we will live in a country devoid of insecurity, corruption and abject poverty. We will live in a peaceful nation of economic prosperity educational rights, and a country that will stand on its feet as the Giant of Africa. May God bless Nigeria!

Happy independence.

Usman Zubairu Yakubu writes from Toro, Bauchi state, Nigeria and can be reached via usmanzubairuyakubu@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Mubarak Ibrahim Lawan

I still wonder about the “independence” that people celebrate on Social Media. Are we independent? Anyway, that’s a topic for Postcolonial theorists. However, I pity the barely Nigeria-educated boys and girls who blocked our roads yesterday shouting with fanfare about that “Independence”. Are they celebrating the blessed geographical entity called Nigeria or the non-working national system that was poorly set on the landmass exactly 61 years ago?

I for one find no reason to celebrate these years of bloodletting, corruption, political prostitution, misgovernance and economic mismanagement that destroy education, healthcare, transportation and hope. To respond to some commenters, I do not I receive “free education” from “Nigeria” nor pay very low tax. We all receive the education we pay for and also pay the tax that is barely seen in government’s projects.

We all pay school fees. One may argue that it is low compared to what is paid in other countries. However, the quality education that students receive in those countries is commensurate with what they pay. Here, we pay less money and get less, poor education. I believe he is sick in the head whoever thinks that parents should pay huge amount of money to enroll their children into the highly dilapidated public schools that have no toilets, no seats, no chalkboard let alone marker board; no teachers, no laboratories, no security and any academic aura.

Similarly, do we get electricity, roads, hospitals, schools, etc, from the little tax we pay? What we pay is even bigger than the little they give in return. Whatever subsidy that a government puts in place to ease the life of citizens does not exist in Nigeria. Yet some people tell you that Nigeria is the best country to live in. I pray may God heal their hearts!

The Peace and Unity that end our National Anthem are never true to the nation today. No region is peaceful or united from within let alone with other regions around. Everyday dozens of people die like fowls; tens are kidnapped and billions of Naira are embezzled and misappropriated. Still we lie to ourselves about the nation and even celebrate it’s “independence” day.

What is it to celebrate in Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Borno and other places where thousands of women are made widows and their children orphans, still, running into thousands in IDPs? As such, is the celebration not a betrayal of our humanity? Are we truly celebrating this independence that equips bandits, kidnappers and other terrorists with more state-of-the-art weapons than the Nigeria Army?

We are not well-meaning Nigerians by mere celebrating independence day and sharing the “un-presidential” speech of the president who has been cocooned from the real world for years. Poor opportunists! We are not well-meaning Nigerians until we share the tragedy of every Nigerian. Similarly, we could only be Nigerians by fighting injustice, misgovernance and insecurity in every possible way.

Mubarak Ibrahim Lawan is a socio-political analyst. He writes from Kano, Nigeria.

By Aliyu Nuhu

At 61 years of age the only progress Nigeria made is in population growth, something that is not properly managed. It jumps from 36 million people formerly, we are now approximately 200 million. A clear case of quantity without quality.

What do we have to celebrate while Nigeria today is in company of Somalia, DRC, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Niger, Iraq, Pakistan and host of other failed states in terms of development?

According to UNICEF about 20 million Nigerian children are not attending primary school, about 6 million that are attending will still come out illiterate due to poor quality of teaching. The worst is that the government pretends that all is well and is doing nothing about it. Almajiri system of education is still in practice and not properly managed. It is one of the indicators that Nigeria is not serious about its future.

Another tragedy is that, around 80 million Nigerians are unemployed, in fact about 98% of Nigerian youths are all without job or any form of social and economic engagement. Suddenly, Covid-19 came and made matters worse as more people are losing their means of livelihood. Banditry and kidnapping have chased people away from their farmlands.

Nigeria is without electricity, roads, railways, good airports, clean water and sanitation, public toilets and all other critical social and economic infrastructures.

The government naively claimed that the economy is growing forgetting the relationship between economic growth and job creation. How can growth be justified with 80 million unemployed citizens? How can growth be justified with 3000mw of electricity? That is far below what South Africa generates from renewable energy. According to the Ministry of Energy, South Africa’s total domestic electricity generation capacity is 51,309 megawatts. About 91.2%, or 46,776 MW comes from thermal power stations, while 4,533 MW or 8.8%, is generated from renewable energy sources.

How can growth be justified with industries failing, the entire Northern Nigeria is without viable industry! All the critical sectors that make a nation strong are either absent in Nigeria or in shambles. The chemical, commercial, communication, manufacturing sectors, dams, defense, emergency services, energy, banking and other financial services, food and agriculture, health care, information technology, nuclear reactor, material and wastes management, transport and waterways, all and sundry are either not working or completely corrupt and dubious.

Don’t roll the drum to celebrate, as a matter of fact we should remain in our houses and mourn our collective failure as a nation.

The Mo Ibrahim foundation just placed us among the 10 worst governed countries in Africa. The Economic intelligence Unit (of the London Economist) placed us among the world’s failed nations. And these institutions are not the opposition, it is not PDP that is giving this grim picture of our country.

It is easy for Nigerians to rise and say we are not a failed state, but going by the definition of state failure, a nation that fails to discharge its obligation to its citizens, is indeed heading to the direction of a failed state.

Everyone knows Nigeria cannot provide basic security to its citizens. We have hundreds of thousands of people displaced by insecurity. This is the kind of story associated with state failure because the state, after failing to secure lives, will also not be able to bring the criminals to justice.

We are never worse in terms of security, people are killed daily in our cities. They are kidnapped and attacked in their homes. Corruption has never been worse, yet the courts have simply joined the thieves. In Nigeria today, nobody gets jailed for corruption.

To me there is no need to celebrate, we should all put our hands on our heads and cry. Our leaders, both past and present should bury their heads in shame for bringing our country to its knees.

Nigeria is also practically not good for the poor and vulnerable. If you can’t get plum government appointment, just be rich.The rich are allowed to claim fuel subsidy, evade tax, have import duties, manipulate commodity prices, bet on stocks with privileged information they get from golf clubs. The equivalent of all these or even less, when done by the poor, is called stealing. And the poor also had their bad ways as well. Leaders looting by example while followers learning by instinct.

Nigeria allows great deal of latitude to the rich. The courts are even scared of them. This is our way of making up to them for creating a society in which everything can be done for money, while nothing is worth having at all.

I can only say happy independence to the Nigerian rich, they, along with our leaders, help in ruining this nation. They are now reaping the fruits of their labour. As things get so bad, there is no peace for them to enjoy their wealth. They are an endangered species on the highway. Kidnappers are looking for them the way hunters look for antelope. At home there is no peace. Even behind heavily fortified walls, they sleep with open eyes. It will continue to degenerate because peace exists only in a society that has shared prosperity among its people.

Sadly again, Nigeria is the most badly governed and mismanaged nation on earth. Most poor and backward countries owe their present condition to war, natural disasters, geography and size, but it is not the same with Nigeria. It is its people in the hierarchy of the leaders, the rich and the poor masses.

Vietnam was in a state of war for 20 years. Korea was at war for three years. Today they are developed economies.

Nigeria only witnessed civil war for three years and remained in peace for the best part of its 61 years existence, earning about $1 trillion from sale of oil. Yet with all that money it achieved nothing in terms of development. Most of it has been shamelessly mismanaged or stolen!Today Nigeria is 61 years old. Here are some reasons for sober reflection and adjustments by our leaders.

1. In 1960 Nigeria has only 2 universities. Today it has 40 federal universities, 40 state universities and 61 private universities. However its people have to run to Ghana, a country with only 9 universities to study. The reason is because the 141 universities in Nigeria are below international standard due to corruption, mismanagement and neglect. The country, according to UNICEF has 10.5 million children outside primary school. It means in 20 years, about 30% Nigerians will not be able to secure employment as security men, because the job will require basic literacy as qualification. Public primary and secondary education system has collapsed in Nigeria. Parents spend their earnings to educate their children. This goes to say adding weight is not equal to good health.

2. Twenty years ago India has the largest number of pure scientists in the world but it was considered a poor country compared to China because the number of scientists did not transform India into net exporter of goods and services. It was until India changed its ways and started producing technicians like China that it began manufacturing goods and earned the respect of the world. Numbers matter but vision matters most. The Indians were not seeing the world as the Chinese. Like India and China, Nigeria has abundant human and intellectual capital which have been wasted by neglect due to poor attention to education. And because of that our numbers produce nothing. In this age with our size we cannot produce needles, toys and bicycles. These are simple products that don’t require rocket science.

3. Today we have 193,600kms federal highway. Out of that length, only 28,200 kms are paved in the whole 60 years of the country’s existence. The paved highways are death traps killing hundreds of people daily. Meanwhile in 1960 Nigeria had 8,800km of paved federal highways in relatively good condition. The increase in the length without quality today does not translate to progress. Nigeria is considered the worst country among it’s neighbors in terms of road infrastructure. Quality matters more than numbers.

4. In 1960 Nigeria had 118 mission hospitals, and 101 government hospitals. Today it has 22 Federal Medical Centers, 23 giant teaching hospitals, about 46,000 state owned hospitals/health centers and hundreds of thousands private hospitals, clinics and dispensaries. But Nigerians run to Ghana to treat skin infection and UK to treat ear infections! For most heart and brain surgeries we have to go to India or Egypt. Some of us go to Niger and other neighbouring countries!

5. In 1841 Britain and Wales had a population of 15 million people. However Great Britain virtually held the entire world by the jugular, colonising all and every important nation and defining their destiny. Dynamites come in small sizes.

6. Today the US has a population of 325 million people but controls and sets standards for the world with a population of 8 billion. By contrast Nigeria has a population of 182m and military of 400,000 strength but is overwhelmed by a rag tag Boko Haram with a strength of 16,000 followers or even less.

7. Nigeria has 91 million hectares of arable land of which it is able to cultivate only 42% of it using crude and simple tools. Industrial scale holding is nonexistent in Nigeria. Despite being able to produce large quantities of rice, beans, sesame, cashew, cassava, cocoa beans, groundnuts, gum arabic, kolanut, maize (corn), melon, millet, palm kernels, palm oil, plantains, rice, rubber, sorghum, soybeans, bananas and yam; Nigeria is not a net exporter of agricultural products and it imports food to feed its population. FOA report put Nigeria slightly ahead of Niger, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Burkina Fasso and Sierra Leone in food security. Today Nigeria is facing food crisis due to inflation. Most households cannot feed. Those barely eat, eat poisonous, damaged or expired foodstuffs.

It is not how old you are but how well you are. It’s not your numbers that matter but the quality. I feel we have nothing to celebrate. Let’s not be a bunch of jokers!

Aliyu Nuhu, a public commentator, writes from Abuja, Nigeria.