On a cool October morning in 1960, Nigeria officially cut the final legal ties with British colonial rule. Thousands spilled into the streets of Lagos and across many towns; the green-white-green flag rose. With it came expectations: unity, prosperity, justice, dignity. For many, these remain aspirations. Sixty-five years later, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. A country rich in human and natural resources but wrestling with economic hardship, corruption, inequality, and insecurity. This is a look back, a look around, and a look ahead.
From Independence to Early Struggle
At independence, Nigeria got a complex legacy. The colonial structure had left regional, ethnic, and religious divides, uneven infrastructure, and education systems that served elites more than ordinary people. Early governments attempted to build a national identity and invest in roads, schools, and public institutions. There was optimism but tensions erupted. Political competition turned into coups in 1966, regional mistrust grew, and by 1967 the Nigerian Civil War (1967–70) began. The war killed an estimated million people, devastated infrastructures in the east, and left societal scars. The cost of reconciliation, trust, and economic recovery was enormous.
After the war, Nigeria’s leaders, both military and civilian focused on using oil revenue to rebuild. The 1970s oil boom brought vast foreign exchange earnings. New universities, health centres, highways, and other infrastructure sprang up. The revenue, however, also made governance more vulnerable to mismanagement and corruption.
Decades of Military Control and the Return to Civilian Rule
The promise of independence was repeatedly interrupted by military rule. From the mid-1970s through to 1998, Nigeria cycled through a series of military dictatorships, punctuated by brief civilian administrations. During these times, fundamental institutions often suffered: the press was censored, civil liberties curtailed, and public funds misused.The 1980s, particularly, introduced sharp economic hardship. Oil price crashes exposed dependency, external debt mounted, and governments turned to Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) imposed by international lenders. These required removal of subsidies, devaluation of currency, and other austerity measures. This actions often made life more difficult for the poorest.In 1999, democracy returned. Civilian rule has held since then. Elections, though imperfect, have become the regular mechanism for leadership change. Civil society has grown stronger, and some institutional reforms have taken hold. But many of the old problems remain.
What Has Changed And What Hasn’t
Economy, Poverty, and Inequality
Despite being Africa’s largest economy by GDP in many years, Nigeria’s growth has not translated into shared prosperity.
According to the World Bank, the poverty rate in 2023 rose to 38.9%, with approximately 87 million Nigerians estimated to be living below the poverty line.National surveys still show a large proportion of Nigerians living in “extreme poverty” by global standards. For example, a “Poverty and Equity Brief” from April 2025 recounts that 30.9% of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line of US$2.15 per person per day (2017 PPP) in 2018-19, before the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inequality is stark. Rural areas are far worse off. In rural Nigeria, over 75% of people are under the national poverty line; in some northern states, the poverty rate was well above 45%, while southern regions can have much lower rates.
Another dimension is multidimensional poverty. Measures that include not just income but access to health, education, housing, and living conditions. As of 2018-19, about 40.1% of Nigerians were poor under the national monetary poverty line, while 63% were poor. Rural children were hit especially hard.
Corruption and Governance
One of the clearest disappointments since independence has been the persistence of corruption in public life. According to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, Nigeria scored 26 out of 100 (where 0 is “highly corrupt” and 100 is “very clean”), ranking 140 out of 180 countries. The score is a slight improvement from the previous year (25), but it remains low and signals major governance challenges.
In 2025, Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, EFCC, reported recovering nearly US$500 million in proceeds of crime in the past year, along with more than 4,000 convictions, one of its most effective years in history. But for many people that is still far from enough to offset losses and build trust.
Security and Violence
A major reality of life in Nigeria post-independence has been periodic outbreaks of insecurity. Terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and kidnappings have become features of many regions, especially in the north. According to GCERF, Nigeria ranks 6th on the 2025 Global Terrorism Index and accounted for 6% of global terrorism deaths in 2023. Millions have been displaced over the years.
In addition to insurgencies such as Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast, conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in central Nigeria, banditry in the northwest, and communal violence over land and resources continue to threaten lives, disrupt food production, and deepen poverty.
Social Progress: Education, Health, Tech, and Culture
On the positive side, there have been significant gains in education, health outcomes, and technology. Nigeria has expanded access to primary and secondary education; vaccination and health programs have reduced infant and child mortality in many regions. Urban centres are becoming tech hubs; fintech and digital innovation are real sources of hope.
Culturally, Nigeria has gained considerable soft power. Nollywood is one of the world’s biggest film industries by output; Afrobeats dominates music charts globally; fashion and literature from Nigeria enjoy growing international recognition.
Still, many Nigerians in remote or poorer states remain underserved. School infrastructure is weak, many teachers lack training or are absent, health facilities are underfunded and not easily accessible, especially in rural areas.
The Current Snapshot
Putting together recent data shows a mixed but concerning picture.
Extreme Poverty: ~38.9% of Nigerians are living below the poverty line in 2023. Even before COVID, nearly 31% lived on less than US$2.15/day (2017 PPP).
Rural-Urban Divide: Rural poverty is pervasive, over 75% in some rural sections. Urban areas are significantly better off though still with serious problems.
Corruption: Score of 26/100, ranking 140/180 internationally. Slight improvement but low baseline.
Security: Nigeria’s high rank in global terrorism reports shows that violence and instability remain major threats.
What’s Holding It Back?
Drawing from historical patterns and current data, some factors continue to limit progress:
- Dependency on Oil and External Shocks: Nigeria’s economy remains heavily reliant on oil exports. Fluctuations in global oil prices, theft of crude, pipeline vandalism, and under-investment in other sectors mean that oil revenue is unstable and often fails to generate sustainable development.
- Corruption and Weak Institutions: Even when laws exist, enforcement is weak. Corruption is a cost. Funds meant for infrastructure, health, education are diverted and erodes public trust. Transparency and accountability remain patchy.
- Inequality and Geographic Disparities: Southern urban centres (Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, etc.) tend to benefit more from national growth than rural northern zones. The rural-urban, north-south, rich-poor divides are among the starkest in the world.
- Security Challenges: Violence disrupts agriculture, schooling, investment. It also causes displacement, which in turn strains social services and human welfare. Without peace, development is hugely more difficult.
- Infrastructure Deficits: Unreliable electricity, bad roads, limited healthcare and water infrastructure in many states. These reduce quality of life, increase cost of business, and limit social mobility.
- Demographic Pressure: Nigeria has one of the fastest growing populations in the world. Each year, millions of young people enter the labour force. Without job growth, education access, or skills development, many are left with uncertain futures.
What Has Improved:Windows of Hope
Even amid Nigeria’s difficulties, there are clear signs of progress that cannot be ignored. One of the most important is the continuity of democratic governance. Since 1999, Nigeria has maintained civilian rule without interruption. Though elections remain contested and imperfect, the fact that power is now transferred through ballots rather than military coups is a major achievement. Democracy, fragile as it may be, has provided a mechanism for accountability and citizen participation that was absent for decades.
Nigeria’s cultural influence has also grown into one of its greatest strengths. Nollywood is today one of the world’s most prolific film industries, producing movies that are consumed not only across Africa but globally. Similarly, Afrobeats has become a cultural export, topping international charts and filling concert venues worldwide. Nigerian fashion, literature, and art have followed the same path, establishing the country as a leader in Africa’s creative economy.
Technology and innovation provide another ray of hope. Lagos, Abuja, and other urban centres have developed into hubs for startups, particularly in the fintech space. Mobile banking, e-commerce, and digital solutions are bridging gaps in services where traditional infrastructure has failed. Nigeria’s young population is driving this innovation wave, positioning the country as a leader in Africa’s digital economy.
There have also been notable, if uneven, gains in the fight against corruption. In 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported recovering nearly US$500 million in stolen assets and securing thousands of convictions, one of its most productive years.
Finally, civil society in Nigeria is stronger today than it has ever been. Citizens are more aware and vocal about governance failures, injustice, and inequality. Youth-led movements such as the #EndSARS protests demonstrated that Nigerians are willing to hold leaders accountable and demand reforms. Grassroots organizations, non-governmental groups, and independent media continue to press for change, ensuring that the promise of independence remains alive in the national consciousness.
What Needs to Be Done: A Roadmap
For Nigeria to truly enjoy the freedom it gained in 1960, it must fix some big challenges while also building on the progress it has made. One of the most important steps is to stop depending only on oil. For too long, the country has relied on oil money, which rises and falls with global prices. This makes the economy unstable. By investing in farming, manufacturing, and technology, Nigeria can create more jobs and a stronger economy. Helping farmers, traders, and small businesses with good roads, access to loans, and markets will make growth more inclusive.
Good governance is also very important. Nigeria has rules against corruption, but many times they are not enforced. To win back trust, the courts need to be stronger, the police need reforms, and public spending must be more open. Using digital systems in government lime online payments and electronic records will make it harder for officials to steal or misuse funds.
Security problems must be solved with more than just guns and soldiers. While the military plays a role, real peace will only come when the causes of violence are addressed. Many conflicts come from poverty, land disputes, and lack of opportunities. Supporting local communities, improving schools and jobs, and building trust can stop people from being drawn to extremist groups.
Nigeria also needs to invest in its people. Many schools lack good teachers, books, and safe classrooms. Hospitals are not enough, especially in rural areas. If children can get a quality education and citizens have access to good health care, the country will be better prepared for the future.Inequality must also be reduced. Many rural and northern areas do not have enough roads, electricity, or clean water. If every part of Nigeria is developed, people will feel included and united in the national journey.Young people, who make up most of the population, are Nigeria’s greatest strength. They need skills, training, and jobs to contribute to society. Programs in technology, entrepreneurship, and vocational training can unlock their potential.
Finally, Nigeria’s natural resources, especially oil, must be managed wisely. Citizens should be able to see how money from oil and other resources is spent. Clear records and open budgeting will make sure that wealth benefits everyone, not just a few.
Conclusion: Independence Is Not a Destination
Nigeria’s past six and a half decades show that independence is not the finish line but the start of a journey. The dreams of 1960 have been partially fulfilled, often delayed, sometimes betrayed, but not abandoned.More than anything, what sustains Nigeria is its people: young and old, urban and rural, speaking dozens of languages, facing hardship with hope. The successes in culture, innovation, community resilience are real. The failures in governance, inequality, insecurity are urgent.
As Nigeria marks this 65th anniversary, the question is not whether the promise of independence was meaningful. The question is whether, from here, the nation can turn its complexity into strength, its struggles into solidarity, its wealth into shared well-being.
References
- Nigeria Overview: Development news, research, data – World Bank
- Poverty and Equity Brief: Nigeria, April 2025 – World Bank
- Poverty rate among rural Nigerians now 75% – Punch Nigeria
- Nigeria, Corruption Index – Trading Economics
- Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 – Transparency.org
- Nigeria – GCERF: Global Terrorism & Violent Extremism Fund
- Nigeria’s anti-graft agency recovers nearly $500 million – Reuter
- Image source: Google Chrome and OpenAI
