The Chairman of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has stated that Nigeria's weak institutions, poor democratic participation, insecurity, and persistent social divisions are major factors slowing the country's development. He made this statement on Thursday to mark Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary. According to Hayab, Nigeria can only realise its vast potential when its institutions begin to work effectively for citizens.
Hayab compared Nigeria's development with that of nations such as Singapore and Malaysia, which he described as Nigeria's contemporaries. He said Nigeria had continued to grapple with the consequences of weak governance and poor followership despite its abundant human and material resources. Hayab also blamed persistent ethnic, religious, and regional divisions for weakening the sense of national ownership needed to move the country forward.
According to Hayab, Nigeria's challenges require a fundamental strengthening of institutions rather than reliance solely on individual administrations. He said institutions responsible for security, education, economic opportunities, democratic accountability, and public services must be strengthened to enable the country to make sustainable progress. Hayab urged citizens and leaders to begin treating Nigeria as a common project, rather than approaching national issues primarily through ethnic, religious, or regional interests.
Hayab also linked weak democratic institutions to low citizens' participation in elections, warning that voter apathy could create room for manipulation of the electoral process and weaken citizens' ability to demand accountability from elected officials. Official data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that 93,469,008 voters were registered for the 2023 general election, while turnout in the presidential election was 26.7 per cent.
Hayab identified insecurity as a major manifestation of institutional weakness, saying the inability to adequately protect lives and property continues to affect agriculture, education, transportation, commerce, and investment. He urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts against criminal elements and prevent non-state actors from undermining peace and security across the country.
Hayab cited Singapore and Malaysia as examples of countries that have recorded significant economic and institutional progress, saying Nigeria could draw lessons from their emphasis on effective institutions, disciplined governance, investment, and long-term development planning. He stressed that institution-building should extend beyond politics and security to education, the economy, religion, and other sectors of national life.
As the country marks 66 years of independence, Hayab called for renewed commitment to national unity, credible elections, institutional accountability, and active citizenship, saying Nigeria could overcome its developmental challenges if citizens collectively took ownership of the Nigerian project. He encouraged Nigerians to become more economically active through legitimate businesses and investments, saying ethnic and religious considerations should not prevent citizens from taking advantage of opportunities capable of improving their economic wellbeing.
Key points
- Rev. Joseph John Hayab identifies weak institutions as a major factor slowing Nigeria's development.
- Hayab urges citizens to take greater interest in elections to produce leaders chosen by the people.
- Nigeria can learn from Singapore and Malaysia's emphasis on effective institutions and long-term development planning.
