society
Nigeria: Achebe’s Warning Ignored, A Nation in Relapse
Nigeria: Achebe’s Warning Ignored, A Nation in Relapse
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
In 1983, Chinua Achebe wrote The Trouble with Nigeria, a prophetic and piercing essay that diagnosed the cancer eating away at the soul of the nation: leadership failure. Four decades later, Nigeria remains trapped in that same diagnosis—only now the disease has metastasized. Achebe declared, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” Today, that truth echoes louder than ever. Nigeria is not just stagnating; it is regressing, teetering on the brink of political decay, economic catastrophe, and national disintegration.
A Nation Led into the Abyss
Achebe’s critique was made during the Second Republic, under the presidency of Shehu Shagari. He decried the corruption, tribalism, mediocrity, and lack of vision that defined leadership in Nigeria. Fast forward to 2025, and the country finds itself in a far worse state. Despite transitioning through multiple republics, military regimes, and democratic experiments, the core issue remains unresolved. Leadership, instead of evolving, has become more predatory, more aloof, and more disconnected from the common man.
Under the All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015, Nigeria has witnessed a level of decay that can no longer be blamed on colonial legacies or external interference. The Nigerian naira has plummeted from ₦199 to the dollar in 2015 to over ₦1,300 by 2025. The inflation rate, currently at 33.2% (NBS, 2025), has crushed the purchasing power of millions. Public education and health care systems are on life support. Insecurity, which Achebe saw in its infancy, has now become a raging fire consuming communities across the nation—terrorism in the North, banditry in the North-West, and secessionist unrest in the South-East.
Leadership by Ethnic Arithmetic
Achebe warned about tribalism being weaponized for political gain. He wrote, “There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian character. The problem is with the Nigerian leadership.” Today’s leaders, rather than uniting Nigeria’s 250+ ethnic groups under one national identity, continue to exploit these divisions to consolidate power. The presidency is often seen not as a national institution but a prize to be rotated among ethnic regions, with little regard for competence, integrity, or policy direction.
Instead of promoting meritocracy, Nigeria’s political elite has normalized mediocrity, rewarding loyalty over performance. Leadership appointments are made not based on national interest but ethnic appeasement and nepotistic alliances. This is evident in the lopsided federal appointments, the marginalization of minority groups, and the weaponization of federal might against perceived political enemies.
A Broken Social Contract
When Achebe wrote The Trouble with Nigeria, he still had hope for national reform. Today, that hope is barely visible in the eyes of everyday Nigerians. The social contract between the people and the state has been violated beyond recognition. Citizens pay taxes, not in return for services, but as bribes to survive an oppressive bureaucracy. Power supply is erratic, roads are death traps, and public institutions are riddled with inefficiency and fraud.
Nigeria ranks 150 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (2024). Despite creating anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC, corruption has become institutionalized. Looters are recycled into government, while whistleblowers are hunted. Public funds meant for infrastructure, education, and healthcare vanish without trace, and there are rarely consequences.
From Oil Giant to Beggar Nation
Achebe observed that Nigeria’s oil wealth could become a curse if not managed properly. That curse is now reality. Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, has become a net importer of refined petroleum products due to the collapse of domestic refineries. Billions are wasted annually on fuel subsidies, which benefit a corrupt cartel rather than the average citizen. Meanwhile, unemployment is at a staggering 43.5% among youth (NBS, 2025), leading to mass migration, brain drain, and rising crime rates.
Ironically, Ghana—once seen as trailing behind Nigeria—has become a destination for fleeing Nigerian professionals. This reversal of roles highlights the absurdity of Nigeria’s failure. Countries with far less natural and human resources have overtaken Nigeria in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and global perception.
Education and the Collapse of Hope
Achebe lamented the decline of values in the Nigerian educational system, a decay which has now reached a crisis point. Public universities are constantly shut down due to strikes. ASUU, the academic union, remains in a perpetual battle with the government over salaries and working conditions. The result? A generation of half-educated youths with little critical thinking skills and even less hope for employment.
Private education, now a multibillion-naira industry, has become a survival mechanism for the elite. The poor are condemned to overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, and outdated curricula. Without urgent reform, Nigeria risks producing a generation incapable of competing in a globalized world—what Achebe once described as “a people sleepwalking into irrelevance.”
The Deafening Silence of the Elite
Another of Achebe’s frustrations was the complicit silence of Nigeria’s intellectual and economic elite. Today, that silence has become a deafening betrayal. Billionaires and technocrats, instead of leading advocacy for good governance, have retreated into gated mansions in Lagos, Abuja, and abroad. Many have dual citizenships, foreign accounts, and exit strategies should Nigeria collapse.
Meanwhile, the common man is left to confront the harsh realities of fuel queues, bandit attacks, police extortion, and daily humiliation. A country of over 200 million people cannot continue to be ruled like a private estate. Achebe warned us about this elite indifference. We did not listen.
Is There Hope?
Achebe never gave up on Nigeria—neither should we. But hope, like faith, without works is dead. Nigeria must undergo radical leadership renewal. The political class must be dismantled and rebuilt. Meritocracy must replace mediocrity. National interest must supersede ethnic favoritism. Elections must be free and credible, not stage-managed rituals.
Civil society must rise. The youth must awaken—not with hashtags alone, but with concrete action: organizing, voting, holding leaders accountable. The media must remain the watchdog of the nation, not the lapdog of the elite. And above all, Nigeria must return to the ideals of justice, equity, and accountability.
Conclusion
Achebe’s The Trouble with Nigeria is not a relic of the past. It is a living mirror that continues to reflect the rot we have refused to address. His words should be required reading for every Nigerian politician, civil servant, and voter. Until Nigeria confronts the leadership question head-on, there will be no progress—only recycled chaos.
The tragedy is not that Achebe was wrong. It is that he was right, and we still chose to ignore him.
OGUN INVESTS OVER ₦2.25 BILLION TO BOOST AQUACULTURE
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun disclosed that his administration has invested over N2.25Billion with the support from relevant partners to promote aquaculture, towards ensuring food security, job creation, and sustainable livelihood.
Governor Abiodun made this known during the official flag off of Fish Harvest at Ijako-Ota in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the State, adding that his administration was reducing undue dependence on imports and positioning the State as a leader in inland aquaculture.
Represented by his Deputy Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the states helmsman noted that the event was not just about harvesting fish, rather it was about celebrating real cultivation and people-focused progress in the state, appreciating the World Bank and the OGSTEP team for their continued support as well as commitment towards improving the livelihood of its citizenry.
“Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) was developed to strengthen our economy through strategic investments in agriculture. In aquaculture alone, we have supported over 3,400 fish farmers across the State. Each farmer received 72 bags of high-quality feed, with the government subsidising 30 percent of the cost. In total, more than 179,000 bags have been distributed, representing an investment of around ₦2.25 billion”, he noted
Abiodun stressed that agriculture was a serious economic enterprise, noting that his administration remains committed to scaling the cluster model across the State, continue to provide access to finance, inputs, infrastructure, markets, and technology, all in bid to make Ogun State the preferred destination for agribusiness in Nigeria.
He charged the Ministry of Agriculture to fast-track the development of the proposed Processing Zone in the area, as the process would further increase value and reduce post-harvest losses.
Speaking, Chief Economic Adviser and the Commissioner for Finance/Chairman Project Steering committee OGSTEP, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning/Chairman Project Technical Committee OGSTEP, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, stated that the programme underscores the importance of agriculture, especially Aquaculture, saying it would not only help to boost food production but serve as a reservoir for fish farmers in Igidaduro Abule Ewipe fish farm as well as create more jobs for youths.
He also reiterated the State Government’s commitment in supporting agricultural initiatives and partner relevant stakeholders with a view to growing the State economy through food production as well as create more job opportunities for youths.
Earlier, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, said the programme had impacted over 3000 farmers in the State, with a cluster of over 700 fish farmers, noting that the country import about 55 percent of fishes while Ogun State produced 40,000 tonnes as against the demand of over 100, 000, revealing that the present administration led by Prince Dapo Abiodun had invested nothing less than 5.4billion to support different initiatives in agriculture.
Responding, the Project Coordinator OGSTEP, Mrs. Mosun Owo-Odusi noted that the flag-off of the fish harvest was not just a celebration of hard work but a testimony to what could be achieved when the right structures are in place describing the successes recorded as largely due to the unwavering support received from the Ogun State Government and other stakeholders
Representing the Olota of Ota, Oba Prof. Abdulkabir Obalanlege, the Onibudo of Ibudo, Oba Dr. Odutola Adewunmi, commended the State Government for his strides in agriculture and other sectors, saying it shows his commitment to good governance.
In his remarks, the Cluster Chairman, Mr. Ebenezer Jinadu, expressed appreciation to the State Government and the OGSTEP team for the laudable initiative, saying before the programme, most fish farmers have closed businesses but the intervention had helped to resuscitate their businesses, while seeking more government support in building processing centers.
The Chairman ACDC, Mr. Atiba Johnson as well as three other beneficiaries also took turns in appreciating the government for the initiatives while asking for further intervention on the access road.
Ogun Set to Host Most Ambitious National Sports Festival Yet – NSC Chairman*
_as NSC Affirms State’s Readiness Ahead of Gateway Games 2024_
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially confirmed that Ogun State is fully prepared to host the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, following a comprehensive inspection tour of competition venues, logistics hubs, and athlete accommodations across the state.
Led by NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, the Commission’s delegation visited key facilities including the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Alake Sports Centre, Remo Stars Sports Complex, and Babcock University, which will serve as the athletes’ village for the Festival.
The Gateway Games 2024, scheduled to run from May 16 to 30, will bring together thousands of athletes and officials from across Nigeria, competing in more than 32 disciplines, making it one of the largest and most inclusive editions in the Festival’s history.
Speaking after the tour, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko expressed deep confidence in Ogun’s capacity to deliver a landmark event. According to him, “What I have seen here in Ogun is more than infrastructure. It is intent readiness, and ambition. Ogun is set to deliver a brilliant National Sports Festival that will raise the bar and define the standard for future games across Nigeria.”
Reaffirming the state’s commitment, Governor Dapo Abiodun assured the Commission and the Nigerian people of Ogun’s readiness to deliver a historic Games. “We consider it an honour and a responsibility to host this historic Festival. Every facility, every logistic, every detail has been prepared to showcase the best of Ogun and the promise of Nigeria. The Gateway Games will be a model of what’s possible when states align with national vision,” the Governor said.
As the lead agency for sports governance in Nigeria, the National Sports Commission continues to play a central role in coordinating nationwide sports development delivery, enforcing standards, and deepening synergy across all tiers of government. The success of the Gateway Games will serve as a blueprint for future sports development initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
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