NIGERIA AT 61: A CELEBRATION WORTHY OF CELEBRATING

NEWS: BY Agarah Bibisinuoluwa Iretunde

On the 1st day of October 1960, Africa's most populous country (with over 200 million inhabitants) became a federal republic, an anniversary commemorated as Nigeria's Independence Day.

Whether listening to local Nigerian music such as fújì or preparing traditional meals like egusi soup, celebrants honor their heritage while looking forward to the future. The holiday is celebrated annually by the government of Nigeria.

The festivities began with the President's address to the people, which is broadcast on radio and television.

However, the question remains. Nigeria is 61. What exactly are we celebrating? Security, employment, a stable economy?

In 1914, the Southern Nigeria Protectorate was combined with the Northern Nigeria Protectorate to create the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, which has the borders of modern-day Nigeria. By the late 1950s, the call for independence of territories in Africa and the decline of the British Empire led to the country being granted independence on 1 October 1960 as the Federation of Nigeria. Three years later, the constitution was amended and the country was declared the Federal Republic of Nigeria with Nnamdi Azikiwe, previously Governor-General, as the first President.

One of the most challenging factors about Nigeria's economy is that the corruption and mismanagement of its post-colonial governments have prevented the channeling of the country's abundant natural and human resources—especially its wealth in crude oil—into lasting improvements in infrastructure and the construction of a sound base for self-sustaining economic development. Thus, despite its abundant resources, Nigeria is poorer today than it was at independence in 1960. Still one of the less developed and poorer countries of the world, it has the potential to become a major economic power if the leaders resolve to learn from past mistakes and harness the country's rich natural and human resources for a productive and sustained effort to promote economic development.

The oil boom which Nigeria experienced in the 1970s helped the nation to recover rapidly from its civil war and at the same time gave great impetus to the government's program of rapid industrialization. Many manufacturing industries sprang up and the economy experienced rapid growth of about 8 percent per year that made Nigeria, by 1980, the largest economy in Africa. The growth, however, was not sustained. The new oil wealth did little to reverse widespread poverty and the collapse of even basic infrastructure and social services. The urban unemployment rate rose to 28 percent in 1992, and crime also increased as 31.4 percent of the population lived below the poverty line.

There was considerable optimism in May 1999 when Olusegun Obasanjo became Nigeria'scivilian president. Many hoped that he would lift Nigeria from the verge of economic bankruptcy. One of Obasanjo's objectives to that purpose was to secure debt relief from Nigeria's foreign creditors. However, these creditors insisted that Nigeria's wealth of untapped resources provided the means for the country to pay off its debts, and refused to cancel its debts of US$30 billion.

Inequality, in terms of income and opportunities, remains high and has adversely affected poverty reduction. The lack of job opportunities is at the core of the high poverty levels, regional inequality, and social and political unrest. Without the COVID-19 shock, about 2 million Nigerians were expected to fall into poverty in 2020 as population growth outpaces economic growth. With COVID-19, the recession is likely to push

an additional 5 million Nigerians into poverty in 2020, bringing the total newly poor to 7 million this year.

Violent crime – such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage-taking, banditry, and rape – is common throughout the country. Kidnappings for ransom occur frequently, often targeting dual national citizens who have returned to Nigeria for a visit, as well as U.S. citizens with perceived wealth. Kidnapping gangs have also stopped victims on interstate roads.

Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria, especially in the Northeast. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting shopping centers, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools, government installations, transportation hubs, and other places where crowds gather. Terrorists are known to work with local gangs to expand their reach.

There is civil unrest and low-level armed militancy in parts of Southern Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region. Armed criminality, including kidnapping and maritime crime, is also pervasive in this region. Violence can flare up between communities of farmers and herders in rural areas.

There is a frequent maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea. Cessation threats from important and influential individuals threaten the peace and unity

And so, I ask again, is Nigeria worth celebrating?