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Nigerians and the promise of independence 13 Nov 2026

On 1 October 2026, Nigeria marked another anniversary of independence. Beyond the ceremonies and speeches, the occasion invites sober reflection. What does independence mean in the daily lives of Nigerians?

Political independence brought legal sovereignty and international recognition. However, sovereignty is most meaningful when it enables the state to protect lives, enforce the law fairly, create opportunities, and improve the welfare of citizens. Sixty-six years after independence, Nigeria’s sovereignty raises questions about the benefits of self-government. These benefits are not reaching many Nigerians.

For many citizens, the promise of national sovereignty remains only partially fulfilled. When farmers cannot safely access their fields, when children are unable to attend school because of insecurity, and when communities live under the threat of kidnapping, insurgency, or criminal violence, the gap between independence as a national achievement and independence as a lived reality becomes evident.

Nigeria's difficulties did not emerge overnight. Military interventions disrupted democratic development for decades, while the civil war exposed deep divisions within the federation. The annulment of the 12 June 1993 presidential election demonstrated how fragile the democratic culture was. Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, elections have restored constitutional governance, but political competition has too often centred on access to power and patronage rather than public service and performance.

History matters, but it cannot explain every contemporary failure. While colonial rule shaped the foundations of the Nigerian state, successive generations of leaders have made choices about priorities, appointments, spending, and accountability. Every government inherits challenges, but every government also bears responsibility for how it responds to them.

A recurring problem has been the tendency to view public office as a prize to be won rather than a trust to be exercised. When state resources are diverted from public purposes, citizens experience the consequences directly, as poorly equipped schools and hospitals, inadequate roads, unreliable electricity, and limited access to clean water. The quality of governance is felt not in official statements but in everyday life.

The same principle applies to economic management. Economic growth and reform are important, but they do not automatically translate into improved welfare. What matters is whether growth expands opportunities, creates jobs, and strengthens public services. A growing economy can coexist with hardship when the benefits of growth are unevenly distributed or when institutions fail to convert national wealth into public goods.

The current cost-of-living pressures in the country illustrate this challenge. Economic reforms may be necessary, but their success ultimately depends on whether citizens experience improvements in their lives. Removing subsidies or adjusting the exchange rate is a policy option. Once implemented, governments must also show how the costs of reform are shared, how vulnerable households are protected, and how today's sacrifices will produce tomorrow's gains.

This is particularly important because trust is an essential element of governance. Citizens are more likely to support difficult policies when they believe the burdens and benefits are distributed fairly. When hardship appears to be concentrated on ordinary people while those in authority remain insulated from its effects, public confidence inevitably erodes.

Security remains another critical test of independence. The legitimacy of the state depends largely on its ability to exercise authority across its territory. When armed groups dictate who can farm, travel, or live in particular communities, they directly challenge that authority. Restoring security requires more than military operations. It requires effective intelligence, functioning courts, strong local administration, and a sustained state presence in affected areas.

At the same time, national cohesion cannot be built through force alone. Many Nigerians continue to encounter barriers based on ethnicity, religion, or place of origin. Such divisions weaken the sense of common citizenship on which national development depends.

A stronger national identity must rest on equal citizenship. Equal protection under the law. Fair access to opportunity. And public institutions that serve all citizens regardless of background. Governments should address discriminatory practices that treat some Nigerians as outsiders in places where they live and work, while ensuring that legitimate community interests remain protected.

Equal citizenship must also be grounded in economic opportunity. People need opportunities to earn a living, develop skills, and contribute productively to society. In agriculture, this means security for farmers, access to extension services, improved storage facilities, and reliable routes to market. In industry, it requires dependable electricity, skilled labour, transport infrastructure, and access to finance. Public support should encourage productivity and competitiveness rather than perpetuate inefficiency.

International partnerships can support these goals by strengthening domestic capabilities through technology transfer, skills development, and local supplier networks. Such partnerships should help Nigeria build the capacity required to define and pursue its own development priorities.

Education and healthcare are equally fundamental. A country's long-term prospects depend on the quality of its human capital. This requires more than constructing buildings; it requires trained teachers, effective schools, functioning primary healthcare systems, and the resources needed to sustain them. Investments in people are among the most important measures of a nation's commitment to its future.

Ultimately, however, progress depends on accountability. Public promises mean little unless they are linked to measurable outcomes. Contracts should be transparent, audit findings should be acted upon, public-sector recruitment should reward competence, and wrongdoing should attract consequences regardless of status or affiliation. Governments at all levels should define clear priorities and accept responsibility for delivering results.

As Nigeria looks towards future independence anniversaries, the most meaningful measure of progress will not be the quality of commemorative speeches but the condition of citizens' lives. Are communities safer? Are schools and clinics functioning? Are citizens treated equally under the law? Are households better able to meet their needs?

These questions go to the heart of what independence should mean. Sovereignty is not an end in itself. Its value lies in the extent to which it expands freedom, opportunity, security, and dignity for citizens.

Nigeria's independence is real. The challenge is ensuring that its promise becomes equally real for the people in whose name the nation is governed.

Efem N. Ubi is a Professor at the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University (Jinhua, China), and the former Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA, Lagos, Nigeria).