It’s been 66 years since Nigeria gained independence — 66 years of freedom.
But do the citizens truly feel free?
Being Nigerian means different things to different people. For some, it is a source of pride and hope. For others, frustration, resilience, or a mix of emotions that can be difficult to put into words.
As Nigeria marked 66 years of independence, Channels Television spoke to everyday Nigerians about what it means to call this country home, hearing firsthand how Nigeria makes them feel: the good, the bad, and everything in between.
LAGOS – Freedom On paper?
On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule, marking the end of decades of British administration and the beginning of the country’s journey as a sovereign nation.
Sixty-six years on, for many Nigerians in Lagos, in the South-West of the country, independence has not necessarily translated into a sense of freedom.
For set designer Jisola Ara, the daily struggle to survive has become the measure of how free citizens feel.
“I think we are free in the sense that we are an independent nation, but I don’t think the average Nigerian experiences freedom in its fullest sense,” Jisola said.
“When your biggest concern every day is how to survive, pay your bills, feed your family, stay safe and keep your head above water, there is a limit to how free you actually feel. So, yes, we are independent, but I think there is still a lot of work to be done before Nigerians can genuinely feel free,” Jisola added.
And for POS vendor Esther Ego, corruption and the state of the country have shaped how she feels about being Nigerian.
“I don’t think anything makes me happy to be a Nigerian. Because of the way things are right now, and the corruption everywhere, and other things that are going on around the country, I don’t think Nigerians are free right now,” Esther said.
It’s different for food vendor Olabiyi Oladimeji, who believes Nigerians are free, but that more needs to be done to make that freedom meaningful.
“We’re free, but we’re still not getting there. Our leaders should try. Plan it well. Put the citizens into consideration, then we can all be free and be fine.” Olabiyi said.
Commercial bus driver Owoyemi Ayoola says Nigeria has not delivered on the expectations it promised, pointing to the shortage of job opportunities, water, and electricity.
“So all those things, are we benefiting from them? We are not free, because Nigeria is not moving forward the way it’s supposed to be. People behind us, they are over us. And before we say we are the giants of Nigeria, are we giants?” Owoyemi said.
Chukwudi Ubani, a security officer, echoes Owoyemi’s sentiments.
“I’m not proud to be a Nigerian at all because suffering is too much. Everything is hard. We are the owners of the country. How do we suffer in our country? We are not free. We are not free at all. They use us as slaves,” Chukwudi lamented.
BENIN CITY – Where Is The Freedom
More than 300 kilometres from Lagos, in Benin City, Edo State, in Nigeria’s South-South region, the question of freedom takes on another dimension. Communications professional Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu said political independence has not translated into freedom for many Nigerians.
“We have been free from colonial rule for 66 years, but have become slaves in the hands of our own people, our selfish leaders who, through bad leadership, corruption and poor governance, have continued to leave millions of Nigerians in suffering and hardship. So, while we are politically independent, we still have a long way to go before Nigerians can truly say they are free.” Chukwuemeka said.
Media practitioner Black Ologundudu focuses on another side of the question: whether the same freedoms are experienced equally by the rich and the poor.
“Nigerians are not truly free. We are still in captivity or bondage. I feel bad because of our corrupt system of government. When you are rich, you are above the law, but once you are poor, you are not above the law,” Black said.
ZAMFARA — Two Views Of Freedom
Hundreds of kilometres north of Benin City lies Zamfara State, in Nigeria’s North-West, where citizens offer different perspectives on what freedom means.
A lecturer in the Microbiology department at the Federal University Gusau, Oluchukwu Abba, said that political independence alone is not enough.
“I don’t really think we are completely free, because freedom entails so many things,” Oluchukwu said. “We need to be self-reliant, we need to have economic vibrancy, and some of these things are lacking. Though we are celebrating independence, we are still not entirely free.”
But for Ahmad Haliru, a student at the university, freedom lies in the ability of Nigerians to choose their leaders and shape their own policies.
“Yes, Nigeria is free because, to the best of my understanding, in a situation whereby we elect our leaders and implement our policies by ourselves, this guarantees us to be a free country. So, to the best of my knowledge, Nigeria is free,” Ahmad said.
‘Proud Nigerians’
But beyond the frustrations, cost of living and insecurity, Nigerians say they are still proud to identify with the country.
“I am proud of our people, our culture, our creativity and our ability to survive difficult circumstances,” said Jisola from Lagos. “Look at our music, our films, our fashion, our food, our businesses and the things Nigerians are doing all over the world.”
“I’m proud now. We have good people from Nigeria. Osimhen is a Nigerian, Don Jazzy is a Nigerian. We have big, big celebrities, Davido, Wizkid, so we are proud,” Olabiyi, a Lagosian, said.
“I’m proud to be a Nigerian, but Nigeria, is it proud to be independent? Because what we are expecting from it, we are not getting,” Owoyemi said.
“I am a proud Nigerian. We are a people richly blessed by God with human and natural resources. We are a strong, resilient, and incredibly talented people.
“This is why we keep resiliently pushing forward despite the difficulty and hardship inflicted on us by bad governance. From our creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to our ability to thrive anywhere in the world, Nigerians consistently show that we can compete globally,” Chukwuemeka in Benin City said.
“The only thing that makes me proud to be a Nigerian is talent. Nigerians are talented in everything,” Black from Benin City noted.
“I’m very proud to be a Nigerian. I’m sincerely proud to be a Nigerian, and I am happy I am a Nigerian. I am proud because Nigerians are very strong-willed. Nigerians are very resilient. Nigerians have a strong willpower. We are achievers,” Oluchukwu, a resident in Zamfara, said.
“It makes me feel happy because I have a sense of gratefulness to Allah Almighty for bringing me into Nigeria as a citizen of the country. So I am happy to be a Nigerian,” Ahmad, also in Zamfara, said.
Hope For The Future
From Lagos to Benin City to Zamfara, Nigerians carry different experiences and mixed feelings about the country. However, they remain hopeful for a brighter tomorrow.
“The future will be bright. There is no country that is not facing challenges. Every country is facing its challenges, so it is what it is. Don’t be lazy,” Olabiyi from Lagos added.
“Younger Nigerians, their creativity, ambition and willingness to challenge the status quo give me hope. I know one day, we would wake up from our docility and say: enough is enough,” Chukwuemeka added.
“Nigeria should have been better than how it is today. So I am hoping someday these problems will be fixed. The hope is that generations of new leaders are coming and gradually Nigeria is progressing.
“I believe someday today’s young people will make a move that will change the country entirely and make us count among the developed countries of the world,” said Ahmad.
The answers may differ, but one thing remains clear: Nigerians continue to hope for a country they can be even prouder to call home.
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