Sixty-five years after the lowering of the Union Jack and the triumphant hoisting of the Green-White-Green, Nigeria today marks another Independence anniversary — a moment that should have been filled with joy, gratitude, and national pride. Instead, it is a day layered with mixed emotions: a celebration of the resilience of a people who have refused to give up, and a sober reflection on the heavy burden of issues and challenges that continue to define the Nigerian story.
From the bustling streets of Abuja, where flags are hoisted and parades staged, to the rural hamlets where the only sound of celebration comes from transistor radios blaring patriotic songs, Nigerians are united not just by history, but by their shared struggle to survive in a nation that has often betrayed their hopes.
The Resilient Spirit Of Nigerians
In spite of unending hardship, Nigerians remain one of the most enduring people on earth. With smiles in the face of suffering and hope in the midst of despair, ordinary citizens continue to exhibit a rare brand of patriotism. Whether it is the petty trader who manages to feed her children despite soaring food prices, the young graduate hustling across cities with little or no opportunities, or the farmer in the North confronting insecurity yet refusing to abandon his ancestral land — Nigerians have shown that resilience is perhaps the nation’s greatest resource.
This resilience is what has kept the country together through a civil war, military dictatorships, economic recessions, insurgency, and widespread poverty. At 65, Nigeria has survived many storms, and its people remain the unshaken pillars on which the idea of the nation still stands.
The Haunting Issues
But resilience alone is not enough. The Nigerian project has been weakened by decades of bad leadership, corruption, and systemic decay. Today, the issues are glaring:
- Economic Hardship: Since the removal of fuel subsidy, Nigerians have been left to grapple with skyrocketing transport fares, rising food prices, and unbearable living costs. Inflation has reduced salaries to mere tokens, while unemployment continues to push young people to the edge.
- Security Challenges: From banditry in the North West, terrorism in the North East, farmer-herder conflicts in the North Central, and kidnapping across all regions, insecurity has become a constant shadow in daily life. Abuja itself, once considered the safest city, has witnessed rising incidents of robbery, targeted killings and abductions.
- Corruption and Governance Failures: Leadership remains Nigeria’s Achilles’ heel. Billions meant for development often disappear into private pockets, leaving roads in ruins, schools in decay, and hospitals without drugs. Nigeria at 65 still imports fuel despite being Africa’s top oil producer — a paradox that illustrates the depth of the rot.
- Youth Disillusionment: With over half of the population under 30, the absence of opportunities has created an army of frustrated youths. Many are turning to migration, desperate to “japa” in search of a better life abroad. Those who remain face the daily grind of survival with little hope that government will listen to their cries.
The Challenges Of Nationhood
Sixty-five years after independence, Nigeria is still battling the same fundamental questions of identity and unity. Ethno-religious divisions are sharper than ever, while trust in government has hit its lowest ebb. For every Independence Day speech delivered by leaders promising reforms, Nigerians ask: when will the change truly come, when will our hope be renewed?
The dream of the founding fathers — a Nigeria of equal opportunities, prosperity, and justice — remains largely unfulfilled. Instead, what we have is a country struggling to manage its diversity, where the national cake is often cornered by the few at the expense of the many.
The Path Forward
Yet, all hope is not lost. The resilience of the people has kept the dream alive. Nigerians, in their unyielding optimism, continue to believe that a better tomorrow is possible. But resilience must now be matched with accountability and decisive leadership.
At 65, Nigeria can no longer afford the luxury of excuses. The nation must confront its demons — corruption, insecurity, poverty, and bad governance — with the same urgency it once confronted colonialism. Independence will only have meaning when the ordinary citizen can feel its benefits in daily life.
As the Green-White-Green flag flutters across Abuja and beyond, one truth stands out: Nigeria’s story at 65 is one of resilience tested by unending issues and daunting challenges. Whether the next chapter will be one of redemption or further regression depends not only on those in power, but on the collective will of a people who have refused to give up on the country they call home