Nigeria's 66th Independence: Struggles with Governance and Security

On October 1, Nigeria celebrates 66 years of independence from British colonial rule. The nation has maintained its unity but struggles with governance and economic challenges.

Nigeria has experienced 27 years of unbroken civil rule, yet democracy has not resulted in quality governance. Voter turnout has significantly declined from 69% in 2003 to about 27% in 2023.

The country, despite being Africa's largest oil producer and the world's sixth most populous nation, faces severe poverty, with over 140 million people multi-dimensionally poor. Key policy changes in the last three years include the removal of petrol subsidies, unification of the exchange rate, and increased borrowing, leading to mixed economic results.

Inflation peaked at 34% in 2024 but has moderated to around 22%. Security issues have escalated, with banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings prevalent, leaving over 2.2 million people internally displaced.

Increased defense spending has not resolved the overstretched security architecture.