Nigeria At 63: Let Us Change The Narrative, By Oluwaseun Abosede

From the very day we lowered the Union Jack’s flag on the 1st of October, 1960, and proclaimed our independence from British rule, we have regrettably regressed as a nation. Nigeria boasts a stupendous wealth of natural resources, including oil and natural gas, limestone, lead, zinc, niobium, iron ore, coal, metals, stone, sand, and fertile land, coupled with a population of wonderfully creative and hardworking people. Ideally, as a nation, we should have emerged as a global player in all aspects of life, surpassing even Dubai, which transformed itself from a barren land into the world’s third-most-visited city. Sadly, we have repeatedly been “blessed” with a ruling elite that has proven reckless and irresponsible in power, displaying a lack of commitment to the judicious management of our resources for nation-building.

In truth, the military’s intrusion into politics halted our progress and eroded the very foundations of our nation. Some analysts argue that this is why the center has struggled to hold to this day. Consider the facts: Nigeria gained independence in 1960 and fell under military rule from 1966 to 1979, a period of 11 solid years. We briefly escaped it but relapsed again from 1983 to 1999, another 16 years, totaling 27 of the first 39 years of our independence. Undoubtedly, any country in such a situation would suffer structural deficiencies.

Nonetheless, the period from 1999 to 2023 marked uninterrupted civil rule, a span of 24 years, which should have been sufficient to set the stage for the revival of Nigeria, once regarded as the giant of Africa, and free her from the self-inflicted bondage she imposed upon her citizens. Regrettably, the much-needed structural and institutional reforms, achieved by harnessing our human and natural resources for positive development, remain conspicuously absent, regardless of which government holds power.

The oil wealth that should have been a blessing has instead fostered laziness and corruption, as the average Nigerian now depends on political patronage for success. The disconnect between the leadership and the citizenry is evident, with the ruling elite exploiting the masses. Unfortunately, those wishing to pilfer the national treasury outnumber those currently draining it dry. We’ve voiced our concerns repeatedly—there should be free and high-quality education, accessible healthcare, well-maintained infrastructure (roads, rail, and water networks), clean drinking water for all, reliable yet affordable electricity, and security, among other essentials. Instead, we grapple with soaring crime rates—cultism, kidnappings, terrorism, ritual killings, and armed robberies—largely fueled by increasing poverty, hunger, starvation, and a general state of lawlessness.

As Nigeria celebrates another birthday, we must look beyond the uninspiring October 1st speech by Mr. President. The only notable positive point was the short-term promise of a #25,000 salary increase for lower Cadre civil servants for six months. As a nation, we must devise a comprehensive strategy to extricate ourselves from this current quagmire. One area to begin with is the promotion of mechanized farming, reviving food supply chains to ensure quality and affordable food for all. Just yesterday, I learned that a bag of rice now sells for #50,000. Nothing can thrive when hunger persists, as individuals cannot be constructively engaged on empty stomachs.

In conclusion, may God bless Nigeria!