society
What Nigerians Truly Want With Nigeria
What Nigerians Truly Want With Nigeria.
George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“Not charity. Not chaos. Real jobs, honest leaders and a country that works for its people.”
For over six decades, Nigerians have endured cycles of hope and heartbreak, promises and betrayal, progress and regression. Yet amid the noise of politics and propaganda, one fundamental question still echoes from the streets of Lagos to the creeks of the Niger Delta, from the classrooms of Ibadan to the dusty markets of Sokoto: What do Nigerians truly want with Nigeria?
The answer is neither mystical nor complex. Nigerians are not asking for miracles or charity. They are asking for a country that works, a nation that rewards effort, protects life, upholds justice and gives its citizens dignity. They want a nation where leadership serves the people, not itself. They want, in essence, the Nigeria that was promised but never delivered.
1. Nigerians Want Jobs and Economic Dignity.
Unemployment is not just a statistic; it is a national tragedy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment and underemployment rates remain disturbingly high, especially among young people. Over 40% of Nigeria’s youth are either unemployed or underemployed, despite being the most educated generation in history.
Every year, Nigerian universities produce over 500,000 graduates, yet less than a fraction find gainful employment. Many resort to driving ride-hailing services, selling data bundles or migrating to countries that value their talent. As Professor Pat Utomi aptly puts it, “a country that cannot convert its youthful population into productive citizens is sitting on a social time bomb.”
What Nigerians want is clear, a government that prioritizes job creation through industrialization, digital economy development and investment in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They want a Nigeria that empowers its people to create wealth, not one that frustrates them into exile.
2. Nigerians Want the End of Poverty.
The World Bank estimates that over 100 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line. Poverty in Nigeria is not theoretical, it is a woman walking ten kilometers to fetch dirty water; it is a child going to bed hungry; it is a farmer watching crops rot because of bad roads.
While politicians boast about GDP figures, ordinary Nigerians measure the economy by what’s on their plates. Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka once said, “You cannot eat democracy.” Nigerians want leadership that translates political freedom into economic reality.
A government that allows its people to live in such destitution, while billions vanish through corruption, has lost its moral compass. Nigerians want a social contract that delivers prosperity to all, not privileges to a few.
3. Nigerians Want Power; Real Electricity, Not Excuses.
Electricity is the bloodstream of development, yet Nigeria still generates less than 5,000 megawatts for a population exceeding 220 million. South Africa, with one-third of Nigeria’s population, generates over 45,000 megawatts, even amid its power crises.
The result is predictable: industries shut down, small businesses crumble and unemployment deepens. Citizens spend more on generators than on food, while leaders boast about “POWER REFORMS” that never light up homes.
Nigerians want light not just in their bulbs, but in their future. They want investments in renewable energy, transparency in the power sector and a government that ends the decades-long conspiracy of darkness that benefits generator importers and corrupt contractors.
4. Nigerians Want Security and the Rule of Law.
A nation where citizens sleep with one eye open is a nation at war with itself. From Boko Haram in the northeast to bandits in Zamfara, kidnappers in the south and cultists in the cities, insecurity has turned Nigeria into a human battlefield.
According to Global Terrorism Index reports, Nigeria remains among the top 10 countries most affected by terrorism, despite trillions spent on defense. The average Nigerian no longer trusts the police or the army to protect them.
Nigerians want a government that values life, that reforms security agencies, pays soldiers living wages, equips them adequately and holds them accountable. They want justice that works not a judiciary that auctions verdicts to the highest bidder.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “Safety and security do not just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment.” Nigerians crave that consensus; a nation where safety is not a privilege but a right.
5. Nigerians Want Leadership That Cares.
In his timeless book The Trouble with Nigeria, Chinua Achebe declared: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” Four decades later, nothing has changed. Leadership remains Nigeria’s most chronic disease.
The Nigerian elite class has perfected the art of deception; promising heaven during campaigns and delivering hell in governance. From inflated contracts to stolen budgets, corruption has become an institution. According to Transparency International, Nigeria consistently ranks among the world’s most corrupt nations, with billions looted yearly.
Nigerians want leaders with conscience, men and women who see public office not as a jackpot but as a sacred trust. They want accountability, transparency and empathy. They want a president who stays in Nigeria to solve Nigeria’s problems, not one who spends half his tenure abroad seeking legitimacy.
6. Nigerians Want Quality Healthcare and Education.
It is shameful that the same politicians who cannot fund public hospitals fly abroad for headaches. Nigeria has lost thousands of doctors to the UK, Canada and the U.S., leaving a doctor-patient ratio of 1:10,000 far below the WHO’s recommended 1:600.
The education sector fares no better. Teachers are underpaid, universities are chronically on strike and libraries are outdated. The UNESCO benchmark for education funding is 15–20% of national budgets, yet Nigeria barely allocates 6–8%.
Nigerians want their leaders to prioritize brains over bricks. They want health insurance that works, hospitals that heal and schools that prepare children for the digital age. They want a government that values human capital, because nations rise not by oil, but by intellect.
7. Nigerians Want a Fair Economy and a Stable Currency.
The naira’s collapse has reduced once-proud citizens to beggars in their own land. Inflation hovers around 30%, food prices have tripled since 2023 and fuel deregulation has made transportation unbearable.
Nigerians are not asking for miracles; they are asking for sense. They want fiscal policies that protect the poor not the privileged. They want a Central Bank that defends the naira not one that defends politicians.
As Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, once noted, “Economic growth without inclusiveness is a ticking time bomb.” Nigerians want inclusiveness, an economy that works for the market woman as much as it does for the billionaire.
8. Nigerians Want Justice, Not Excuses.
Every Nigerian has a story of injustice, a policeman’s slap, a bribe in court, a rigged election or a stolen contract. The rule of law has been replaced by the rule of connection. Until justice is blind to tribe, religion or wealth, Nigeria will never know peace.
Nigerians want a judiciary that is fearless and independent. They want an end to selective justice. They want equality before the law, not impunity before the people.
9. Nigerians Want Their Country Back.
Ultimately, Nigerians want ownership; a chance to reclaim the dream that their fathers fought for. They are tired of being spectators while their leaders loot the field. They are tired of tribal politics, fake reforms and recycled excuses.
As Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II once said, “We must not let others write our history.” Nigerians want to write theirs; one of courage, innovation and rebirth. They want a government that listens, a media that speaks truth and a citizenry that refuses to give up.
The Way Forward; The Nigeria We Deserve.
Nigerians are not demanding the impossible. They are demanding the fundamental. They want light, security, fairness, opportunity and justice. They want leaders who serve not steal; who lead by example not by arrogance.
To rebuild Nigeria, leadership must rise above ethnicity, greed and propaganda. The country must return to meritocracy, discipline and vision. It must rebuild trust between citizens and the state.
As Achebe warned, “Until we have honest and patriotic leaders, Nigeria will never rise.” The time has come to prove him wrong or forever live under his prophecy.
society
UNIPGC AFRICA Seals Strategic Partnership with Greenvillage Empowerment Foundation for Capacity Building Initiatives Spearheaded by the Governor of Tana River County, Kenya
*UNIPGC AFRICA Seals Strategic Partnership with Greenvillage Empowerment Foundation for Capacity Building Initiatives Spearheaded by the Governor of Tana River County, Kenya
In a significant step toward strengthening sustainable development and leadership capacity across Africa, *UNIPGC AFRICA* has officially sealed a strategic partnership with *Greenvillage Empowerment Foundation (GVEF)* to implement impactful capacity-building projects. The initiative is spearheaded by the Governor of Tana River County, Republic of Kenya.
The partnership was formalized through the signing of a *Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)* by key representatives of both organizations. Signatories to the agreement include *H.E. Amb. Jonathan Ojadah*, Global President of the United Nations International Peace and Governance Council (UNIPGC); *Amb. Jase Carlos Sousa,* Member of the UNIPGC Supreme Council; and *H.E. Maj. (Rtd.) Dr. Dhadho Godhana*, Executive Governor of Tana River County.
The MoU establishes a robust framework of cooperation between *UNIPGC* and *GVEF* reflecting a shared vision and strong alignment of values in promoting sustainable development, peace, and inclusive governance across Africa.
Under the agreement, both organizations will collaborate on a wide range of development initiatives, including the promotion of *democracy and good governance*, *climate change education and environmental sustainability*, *health promotion through water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Youth capacity building through Robust Film Production Ecosystem, sports development and gender equality and empowerment of marginalized communities*.
The partnership will also actively support and advance the *United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)*.
As part of the collaboration, UNIPGC and GVEF have committed to establishing effective channels for joint action through the design and implementation of programs and projects that address shared development priorities. These initiatives will focus on strengthening leadership capacity, promoting inclusive participation in governance, and enhancing community-based development efforts.
Furthermore, the partnership will encourage mutual institutional support, enabling both organizations to provide *technical expertise, strategic guidance, and moral support* toward the successful implementation of their initiatives.
This landmark collaboration marks a major milestone in advancing cross-sector partnerships aimed at fostering *sustainable development, social inclusion, and transformational leadership across Africa*, while reinforcing the collective commitment of both organizations to achieving the *United Nations Sustainable Development Goals*
Ajadi, Sheikh Sannu Sheu Charge Politicians on Good Governance
The Oyo State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has emphasised the need for politicians to embrace good governance and people-oriented leadership as a fundamental principle of politics in Nigeria.
Ajadi made this call on Friday, shortly after the 4th Annual Ramadan Lecture, organised under his Omituntun 3.0 platform at the BCOS Garden, Bashorun, Ibadan, where he spoke with journalists on the significance of the lecture, themed “Oselurere” (Good Governance).
The well-attended event featured a lecture by a renowned Islamic scholar, Fadheelatus-Sheikh Al-Mufasir Usman Sannu Sheu, the Chief Tafseer of Ilorin Emirate, Al-Adaby, who spoke extensively on the Islamic and socio-political perspectives of good governance, stressing that leadership must be anchored on justice, accountability, and service to humanity.
Speaking after the event, Ajadi explained that the choice of Oselurere as the theme for this year’s lecture was deliberate, noting that it was necessary to educate both current and aspiring politicians on the true essence of politics as service to the people.
According to him, the practice of good politics must be properly understood from both religious and socio-political viewpoints so that the coming generation of leaders can develop the right character for public service.
He said: “Oselurere, which means good governance, was carefully chosen as the topic so we can hear from our guest lecturer about the rewards of practising good politics and also understand what good politics is all about.”
He added that the lecture was also intended to correct the mindset of politicians who seek public office without clear plans to improve the lives of the people.
“The topic is also chosen so that politicians will learn that they should not just assume office without having good things in mind to offer the masses and our nation. That is why we invited our Islamic and renowned scholar, Sannu Sheu, to treat this important subject,” he said.
Reflecting on the history of the annual lecture, Ajadi disclosed that the first three editions were held in Ogun State, where the focus was on humanitarian services and feeding programmes during Ramadan as a way of demonstrating compassion and service to humanity.
The first to third Ramadan lectures hosted by me were held in Ogun State for Muslims and people of other faiths to witness how good it is to feed people and render humanitarian services. The month of Ramadan is one of the best periods to demonstrate these virtues, and that is why I have come to my father’s state of origin, Oyo State, to continue the humanitarian services,” he said.
He further called on Nigerians to use the Ramadan and Lenten periods as opportunities for spiritual rebirth, unity, and prayers for the nation.
“Let us use this period of Ramadan and Lent to learn how to live together in peace, remain united, and be prayerful for our country,” Ajadi advised.
The PDP gubernatorial aspirant also expressed optimism about the electoral fortunes of his party in future elections, saying he believes the PDP will record victories at different levels.
“By the grace of God, our great party will be on the ballot and there will be total victory in the various political offices our candidates will contest for,” he added.
In his lecture, Sheikh Sannu Sheu emphasised that good governance is not only a political obligation but also a moral and religious responsibility. He said Islam places a high premium on leaders who are just, trustworthy, and committed to the welfare of their followers.
The cleric explained that the concept of Oselurere goes beyond political promises, stressing that it includes fairness, transparency, accountability, and prioritising the needs of the weak and vulnerable in society.
He urged leaders at all levels to see their positions as a trust (Amanah) from God and the people, warning that they would be held accountable for how they exercise authority.
The scholar also encouraged citizens to support leaders with prayers and constructive engagement while also holding them accountable through lawful means.
The event attracted Islamic clerics, political stakeholders, community leaders, party members, and residents of Ibadan and its environs. It also featured Qur’anic recitations, special prayers for Oyo State and Nigeria, as well as spiritual musical performances by notable Islamic artistes.
Some of the political stalwarts who graced the occasion included the Executive Chairman of Egbeda Local Government and Chairman of ALGON, Hon. Sanda Sikiru Oyedele; the Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun; and Chief Babatunde Tijani, popularly known as “Double T,” a prominent political figure and Olori-Ebi of the Omituntun Dynasty, among other political leaders.
Observers noted that the annual Ramadan Lecture has continued to grow in prominence, serving as a platform for discussing the intersection between faith, governance, and societal development while also promoting peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different religious and political backgrounds.
society
Nigeria on the Edge: Rising Violence, Economic Hardship and Weak Institutions Fuel Fears of State Failure
Nigeria on the Edge: Rising Violence, Economic Hardship and Weak Institutions Fuel Fears of State Failure
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
“A leading political scientist raises alarm over rising insecurity, weakening institutions, and economic policies that are deepening hardship for millions of Nigerians.”
Nigeria is facing a growing national crisis as insecurity spreads, democratic institutions weaken, and economic policies continue to deepen hardship for millions of citizens. The country is increasingly confronted with a dangerous convergence of political repression, worsening insecurity, and economic instability that many analysts warn could push the state toward systemic failure if urgent corrective actions are not taken.
Across the country, violence is spreading while government institutions that should safeguard democracy appear to be struggling to maintain credibility and independence. At the same time, economic reforms intended to stabilize the nation’s finances have imposed significant burdens on ordinary Nigerians already grappling with rising living costs.
Nigeria is currently confronting simultaneous challenges on several fronts. Insecurity remains one of the most pressing issues threatening national stability.
The insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has persisted for more than a decade. Since the insurgency began in 2009, the conflict has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million civilians in northeastern Nigeria.
Recent reports indicate that attacks on military formations have intensified, particularly around Maiduguri. Militants have continued to target security forces and civilian populations, raising fears that insurgent groups are attempting to strengthen their control in parts of the northeast.
Meanwhile, banditry and organized criminal networks have expanded across Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions. Armed groups operate across territories stretching from Sokoto and Zamfara toward Niger and Kwara states, carrying out kidnappings, attacks on rural communities, and large-scale destruction of property.
States such as Borno, Zamfara, Sokoto, Benue, and Plateau continue to experience recurring violence, with communities frequently caught between insurgents, bandits, and overstretched security forces.
Beyond the security crisis, concerns are also mounting over the state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The judiciary, once widely regarded as a critical pillar of the country’s democracy, is increasingly perceived by critics as being vulnerable to political influence. Questions about judicial independence have intensified as legal decisions in politically sensitive cases continue to spark controversy.
Similarly, the role of the police has come under scrutiny. Critics argue that law enforcement agencies often focus heavily on protecting political elites and high-profile individuals while many communities remain exposed to crime and insecurity.
Such developments have fueled public debate about the strength of Nigeria’s institutional framework and its ability to uphold justice, accountability, and democratic governance.
At the same time, Nigeria’s economic situation continues to generate widespread public concern.
Economic reforms implemented under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the national currency in 2023, were designed to stabilize public finances and attract investment. However, these policies have also contributed to a sharp rise in living costs.
Inflation, currency volatility, and increasing energy prices have significantly reduced the purchasing power of many Nigerian households. Electricity tariffs and various taxes have increased, placing additional pressure on citizens whose incomes have not kept pace with rising expenses.
While international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund have praised Nigeria’s macroeconomic reforms, many Nigerians argue that the benefits of these policies have yet to translate into meaningful improvements in their daily lives.
The agricultural sector provides a clear example of the difficulties currently facing the economy.
Nigeria spent roughly ₦51 billion on rice imports in 2024, signaling a reversal of earlier efforts aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in rice production. Rising production costs, expensive energy, and limited access to affordable financing have forced many farmers to abandon rice cultivation.
Farmers in major agricultural states such as Kano, Kebbi, and Jigawa are reportedly exiting rice production due to mounting losses. At the same time, local rice mills that once flourished are struggling to compete with cheaper imported rice.
Industry leaders have warned that Nigeria’s rice value chain could face serious collapse if current conditions persist. Many mills are now operating far below capacity, with high fuel costs and interest rates making it difficult to sustain operations.
Political tensions are also beginning to rise as the country gradually moves toward the 2027 general elections.
Observers warn that the normalization of political intimidation or violence could weaken democratic competition. History shows that democracies rarely collapse suddenly; instead, they erode gradually as intimidation, coercion, and reprisals become more common in political life.
If such trends continue, elections may still take place formally while the deeper democratic meaning of political participation becomes diminished.
Nigeria now faces what many observers describe as a defining moment in its modern history. The combination of insecurity, economic hardship, and institutional fragility presents serious challenges that require decisive leadership and comprehensive policy responses.
Strengthening democratic institutions, improving security coordination, and implementing economic policies that genuinely improve citizens’ living conditions will be essential to stabilizing the country.
Without meaningful reforms and renewed commitment to accountable governance, Nigeria risks drifting closer to a scenario that many citizens fear—a nation struggling to protect its people, sustain its economy, and preserve the democratic ideals upon which its republic was built.
-
society6 months agoReligion: Africa’s Oldest Weapon of Enslavement and the Forgotten Truth
-
news3 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
society6 months ago“You Are Never Without Help” – Pastor Gebhardt Berndt Inspires Hope Through Empower Church (Video)
-
Business7 months agoGTCO increases GTBank’s Paid-Up Capital to ₦504 Billion