OPEN EYES on The Southerner Newspaper
Thursday, October 2, 2025
On October 1, 1960, the Nigerian flag was hoisted for the first time, signaling the birth of a new, ambitious nation full of promises. Sixty-five years later, the Federal Republic of Nigeria stands as a complex tapestry of remarkable resillience and unfulfilled potentials.
This diamond jubilee anniversary offers a critical moment for national introspection, a time to dispassionately assess the nation’s journey, its enduring strengths, its persistent failures, and the path being charted by the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the banner of “Renewed Hope.”
Despite its myriad challenges, Nigeria has built a foundation upon which a great nation can still be realized. One of the most significant gains is the consolidation of its democratic system. Having endured prolonged periods of military rule, Nigeria has now, for the first time in her history, maintained 24 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
This has allowed for the development of civil institutions, a vibrant and often fearless press, and a political space where power, however contentiously, is transferred through ballots. The 2023 election, with its heated debates and legal contests, ultimately demonstrated a growing, and still maturing, democratic culture.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s economic stature remains formidable on paper, and in reality. It holds the title of Africa’s largest economy and possesses one of the continent’s most vibrant markets. Its population, the largest on the continent, is a double-edged sword, presenting a massive consumer market that attracts global investment.
This dynamism is best exemplified by the explosive growth of its tech and creative sectors. Nigerian fintech companies have achieved unicorn status, revolutionizing finance, and effortlessly putting conventional banking systems on her toes; while Nollywood and the Afrobeats music genre, as well social media content creations have become global cultural forces, projecting a soft power that stomachs the nation’s socio-political and economic troubles.
No doubt, for every gain, a profound shortcoming shadows Nigeria’s progress. The most pressing is the multifaceted security crisis that has engulfed the nation. From the protracted Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East to rampant banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, linking the north central with the evil shadows of herders atrocities, and separatist agitations in the South-East, no region is entirely safe. This destructive forms of insecurity have consumed thousands of lives, displaced millions of citizens, crippled agriculture and fundamentally eroded the social contract, as the state struggles in its primary duty to protect life and property.
Economically, it is instructive to assert that the nation remains perilously dependent on crude oil, a commodity whose volatility dictates national fortunes. Decades of resource mismanagement and systemic corruption have led to a crippling foreign exchange crisis, soaring inflation, and a staggering debt burden. The result is that a significant portion of the population lives in extreme poverty, a stark paradox for a country so rich in human and natural resources.
This economic hardship is exacerbated by a catastrophic decay of critical infrastructure, most notably a failing national power grid which stifles productivity and fuel public frustration.
Progresively, it is within this context of immense challenges and flickering potentials that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration operates. Its “Renewed Hope” agenda represents an ambitious attempt to steer the nation toward stability and prosperity. The path forward requires courageous, strategic, and inclusive action on several fronts.
On security, the government must transcend conventional approaches. This involves not only increasing the number and improving the equipment of security personnel but also embracing technology-driven intelligence gathering and community-policing models. Crucially, a security strategy must be integrated with a development plan that addresses the root causes of unrest, such as youth unemployment and poverty across the country.
Truth be told, the current administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has initiated some of the most audacious reforms in decades, namely the removal of the costly fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange windows. While these decisions have triggered short-term economic pain and public discontent, they were necessary to avert fiscal catastrophe.
The way forward now demands an aggressive focus on the second phase: stabilizing the local currency, relentlessly diversifying the economy by supporting agriculture and manufacturing, and most critically, solving the energy crisis. Providing stable electricity is the single most important catalyst for unlocking Nigeria’s productive capacity. Fulfill that promise now!
Finally, the war on corruption must be perceived as sincere and impartial. Strengthening judicial institutions to ensure swift prosecution of high-profile cases, regardless of political affiliations, is essential to restoring public trust. The known concept of re-looting and media prosecution by EFCC must stop! Concurrently, the government must actively foster national unity by ensuring its appointments and policies promote a sense of belonging and equity across the country’s diverse ethnic and religious landscape, mending the frayed threads of national cohesion.
At 65, Nigeria is a nation of undeniable spirit but tested patience. Our history shows an incredible capacity to endure, even as our present condition underscores an urgent need to transform. The gains provide a blueprint for what is possible when governance and human enterprise align; the shortcomings serve as a stark reminder of the cost of failure.
The “Renewed Hope” administration carries the burden of this legacy. The true commemoration of this 65th independence anniversary will not be found in ceremonial speeches, but in the tangible, collective resolve of its leaders and citizens to finally convert perennial promise into lasting progress, ensuring that the next chapter of Nigeria’s story is defined not by its resilience in suffering, but by its triumph in prosperity. This, gives Kudos to the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s last minute cancellation of public parades which was initially slated to hold today. What we need is for work to be done, and not the usual talk, talk, and talk!
May Nigeria continue to grow and become the true giant of Africa (and black race) in all ramifications! Happy Independence Anniversary!!!
