Nigeria is set to celebrate its 66th independence anniversary on October 1, marking 66 years since the country gained independence from colonial rule. The nation is already in a celebratory mood, with decorations, goodwill messages, and patriotic messages flooding social media. However, beyond the ceremonies, the question remains as to what 66 years of independence mean in the life of an ordinary Nigerian.
At independence in 1960, there was optimism that Nigeria would become one of the continent's great success stories, given its agricultural resources, minerals, oil and gas, and human capital. Sixty-six years later, Nigeria remains enormously endowed, but the uncomfortable question is whether the lives of its citizens sufficiently reflect those endowments. The country's progress will be evaluated based on factors such as security, affordability of living, and access to basic necessities like electricity and healthcare.
Security is a major concern, as Nigerians should be able to move around without fear of kidnappers, and farmers should be able to work without fear of attacks. Additionally, with rising bills, many Nigerians struggle to afford basic necessities, including food and transportation. The minimum wage and the cost of living are critical factors in evaluating the country's progress.
According to the World Bank, Nigeria's real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, compared with 3.9 per cent a year earlier, while inflation has moderated from previous levels. However, growth is not yet sufficient to generate enough productive jobs or materially reduce poverty, with food inflation still at 20.3 per cent in July.
The issue of electricity remains a challenge, with Nigeria still struggling to achieve a stable power supply. Although there has been recent improvement, with average available capacity in August at 4,758MW, sustaining approximately 5,000MW is still celebrated as a major achievement by a 66-year-old country with over 200 million people.
Education and healthcare are also critical areas of concern. A Nigerian child's quality of education increasingly depends on their parents' ability to pay, with those who can afford it opting for expensive private schools. Additionally, access to decent healthcare depends heavily on one's financial situation, making it a significant challenge for many families.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria has made progress in some areas, including sustaining democratic government since 1999, expanding infrastructure, and transforming everyday life through telecommunications and financial technology. However, successive governments should stop comparing Nigeria only with its past and focus on achieving its enormous potential. Citizens also have a critical role to play in national development, including taking responsibility for their actions and holding leaders accountable.
Key points
- Successive Nigerian governments need to focus on achieving the country's enormous potential rather than just comparing current figures with the past.
- The country's progress will be evaluated based on factors such as security, affordability of living, and access to basic necessities like electricity and healthcare.
- Citizens also have a critical role to play in national development, including taking responsibility for their actions and holding leaders accountable.
