Nigeria At 65: Citizens Seek Renewed Commitment To Democracy, Development

As Nigeria marks its 65th Independence anniversary, citizens and civic leaders person urged renewed committedness to democracy, quality rights, and development, cautioning that the nation’s founding dreams of unity and prosperity hazard being undermined by impunity, corruption, and neglect.

At a property briefing successful Abuja, the enforcement manager of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, described Nigeria’s information arsenic a paradox—where authoritative claims of betterment and stableness opposition sharply with the realities of poverty, insecurity, and disillusionment crossed communities.

“Sixty-five years aft independence, anniversaries present punctual citizens of unfulfilled promises. The imagination of democracy, prosperity, and justness is being replaced by a rising tide of impunity and neglect,” helium said.

Zikirullahi warned that antiauthoritarian institutions meant to safeguard citizens are progressively weakened oregon captured by vested interests, with allegations of intimidation of absorption voices, curtailing of civic freedoms, and violations of the Electoral Act threatening Nigeria’s antiauthoritarian foundation.

On the judiciary, CHRICED expressed interest implicit what it termed “widespread corruption, inefficiencies, and governmental interference,” which it said person eroded nationalist assurance successful justness delivery. “The judiciary is nary longer immune to enforcement weakness. High-profile cases are diluted oregon dismissed without consequence,” helium added.

The organisation besides raised alarm implicit worsening economical hardship, pointing to inflation, rising unemployment, and deepening poverty. With much than 130 cardinal Nigerians surviving successful multidimensional poorness and younker unemployment surpassing 40 percent, CHRICED warned that the gulf betwixt citizens and leaders is dangerously widening.

It further lamented the “shrinking civic space,” citing harassment of journalists, activists, and civilian nine organisations. Referring to crackdowns connected peaceful protests, the radical cautioned that ideology cannot thrive nether intimidation and suppression of voices.

On the mode forward, CHRICED called for urgent electoral reforms to reconstruct credibility, stronger anti-corruption measures, and greater concern successful health, education, and societal infrastructure. It besides pressed for justness for Abuja’s indigenous communities done governmental designation and restoration of onshore rights.

“The clip for passive anticipation has passed. The clip for courageous, corporate enactment is now,” the civic radical declared, urging Nigerians to unite successful demanding accountability, justice, and inclusion.