Nigeria @ 64: Road To Nationhood

Nigeria stands as a testament to resilience, complexity, and enduring aspirations. With a population of over 220 million, a vibrant cultural heritage, and one of the largest economies in Africa, the country remains a key player on the continent amidst significant achievements, persistent challenges, and a continuous struggle for unity, stability, and development.

Since October 1, 1960, Nigeria has experienced periods of military rule, civil war, and democratic governance. The post-independence years were initially characterized by political instability, with ethnic tensions, regional divisions, and contested elections leading to the first military coup in 1966. This set the stage for several decades of military rule, punctuated by brief civilian governments.

The most traumatic chapter in Nigeria’s political history was the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), also known as the Biafran War, which resulted in over a million deaths, massive displacement, and significant economic losses. The war ended with the reintegration of the secessionist region, but the scars of ethnic divisions still influence Nigeria’s political landscape today.

By 1999, Nigeria transitioned to its longest-lasting civilian government, ushering in the Fourth Republic. Since then, Nigeria has witnessed seven democratic elections, with ‘peaceful’ transfers of power between political parties, a significant achievement in a country that had previously struggled with military coups although challenges such as electoral transparency, corruption, and ethnic tensions remain persistent.

Today, Nigeria’s democracy appears to be retrogressing rather maturing due to issues such as electoral violence, vote-buying, and the influence of political godfathers which continue to undermine the credibility of its democratic institutions. Efforts to reform the electoral process, foster transparency, and ensure peaceful elections remain a concern.

Opportunities and Challenges

Nigeria’s economy, one of the largest in Africa, has grown significantly since independence, largely due to its vast natural resources, particularly oil. The discovery of oil in Oloibiri in 1956 changed the trajectory of the nation’s economy, as oil quickly became the dominant source of revenue and foreign exchange. Today, Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and among the first ten largest in the world.

However, heavy reliance on oil has also made the economy vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations. Periodic crashes in oil prices have led to economic recessions, while and efforts to diversify the economy, with a focus on agriculture, technology, and manufacturing have not been very successful.

Agriculture, which was the mainstay of the economy pre-independence, still employs a large portion of the population is fraught with challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, and climate change have hampered progress. The technology sector, driven by Nigeria’s young and entrepreneurial population, has witnessed rapid growth. Lagos has emerged as a hub for African startups, with companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Andela gaining international recognition. The rise of the tech industry has positioned Nigeria as a leader in African innovation and fintech.

Despite these gains, Nigeria faces significant economic challenges including high unemployment rates, especially among youth, remain a major concern, inflation and a weakened currency have reduced the purchasing power of citizens. The worst of them all, corruption and mismanagement of public resources continue to hinder economic development and exacerbate inequality. Efforts to boost domestic production and reduce imports have been grossly insufficient because the path to sustained economic growth requires further diversification, improved infrastructure, and tackling systemic corruption.

Nigeria’s human capital is one of its most significant assets. With a median age of 18 years, it boasts one of the largest and youngest populations in the world. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The youth population drives creativity, especially in sectors like technology, fashion, music, and film, where Nigeria is making a global impact through its entertainment industry, Nollywood, and the rise of Afrobeats music.

Despite this potential, Nigeria faces serious challenges in education and healthcare. The country’s education system is struggling to keep pace with the growing population. Low investment, outdated curricula and insufficient infrastructure have resulted in millions of children being out of school. Frequent strikes by university lecturers have also disrupted higher education while bandits and insurgents’ sack schools.

In the healthcare sector, poor infrastructure, low funding, and a shortage of medical professionals, has seen many doctors emigrating in search of better opportunities abroad. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed weaknesses in the healthcare system, though it also led to renewed investment in public health.

One of the most pressing issues facing Nigeria is insecurity including Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, which has displaced millions and caused tens of thousands of deaths since it began in 2009 leaving the region with a persistent humanitarian crisis. Banditry and kidnappings in the northwest have escalated in recent years, with armed groups targeting rural communities and carrying out mass abductions for ransom. Farmer-herder clashes, particularly in the Middle Belt, often fuelled by land disputes, have resulted in significant violence and displacement.

While separatist movements, such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), continue to agitate for greater autonomy or secession, reflecting deep-seated grievances over perceived and evident marginalization of regions like the southeast. In the south-south, agitations persist over decades of hosting Nigeria’s oil resources which has left the region undeveloped and ravaged by environmental devastation caused by oil explorations.

Efforts to address these security issues have been hampered by corruption within the security forces, insufficient funding, and complex political dynamics despite investments in counter-insurgency efforts and negotiated peace settlements, insecurity remains a significant obstacle to national stability.

The Path to National Identity and Unity

The question of national unity has remained central to Nigeria’s post-independence narrative. With over 250 ethnic groups and more than 500 languages, the country’s diversity is both a strength and a challenge. Ethnic and religious divisions have often shaped political dynamics, distribution of resources and opportunities leading to tensions and, at times, violence.

Democracy while a welcome system of government, has greatly polarised Nigerians especially in the last general elections that saw regions and ethnicities pitted against one another. Mostly, this divide is a usual tactic orchestrated by the political elite to ensure they perpetuate themselves in power while unsuspecting citizens are distracted.

Today, Nigeria’s journey to nationhood is fraught with challenges and lessons of history guiding its future and Nigerians are not better off after six decades post independence. The government has a duty of care to ensure that citizenship comes with certain benefits including the protection of life and property.

The path to national identity and unity must ensure that every Nigerian has equal access to opportunities and resources regardless of their gender, ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

The Road Ahead

As Nigeria reflects on 64 years of independence, political stability, economic diversification, unity and diversity, improved infrastructure, and addressing insecurity are key areas that will determine the country’s future trajectory.

Nigeria’s potential is immense, with its young, dynamic population driving innovation and cultural influence. However, to fully realize this potential, the country must address the systemic issues that have hindered its development. With continued investment in its people, governance reforms, and efforts to promote unity, we can pave the way for a brighter, more prosperous future.

Nigeria’s Independence Day is more than a commemoration of the past; it is a celebration of the country’s potential and an opportunity to envision a future where unity, peace, and progress truly define the Nigerian experience rather than rhetoric. As the country continues to navigate its challenges, the spirit of resilience, diversity, and innovation that characterized the struggle for independence must remain central to its national identity.

Now is the time for a reality check by the custodians of the nation’s history, wealth and sovereignty need to set Nigeria on the right path to nationhood.

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!