As Nigeria marks her 65th Independence Anniversary, ActionAid Nigeria has expressed concern over the nation’s socio-economic and political trajectory, warning that decades of missed opportunities continue to undermine the well-being of millions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, said the milestone calls for sober reflection rather than celebration, given the country’s persistent challenges despite six decades of independence and 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule.
While acknowledging modest gains such as railway expansion, private sector-led investments like the Dangote Refinery, and the potential of agriculture and solid minerals to drive diversification, Mamedu stressed that these achievements are overshadowed by deepening poverty, weak institutions, and pervasive insecurity.
“According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 63 percent of Nigerians—about 133 million people—were living in multidimensional poverty in 2022. Inflation above 20 percent in 2025, coupled with subsidy removals and currency devaluations, has worsened hardship,” he noted.
The statement further highlighted structural economic weaknesses, including over-reliance on crude oil revenues, unsustainable debt servicing that consumes nearly all government income, and a fiscal framework that centralises power at the federal level, stifling state-level innovation and accountability.
On human development, Mamedu lamented Nigeria’s poor performance, citing over 18 million out-of-school children, inadequate healthcare services, and a Human Development Index of 0.560. He also expressed concern about climate-induced disasters, corruption, poor infrastructure, and an unreliable power supply that continues to cripple businesses.
Security, he added, has deteriorated nationwide with insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnapping in the North-West and North-Central, violent agitations in the South-East, and recurring farmer-herder conflicts, all of which have displaced communities and deepened economic distress.
Mamedu also criticised the exclusion of women from governance, pointing to stalled progress on the Special Seats Bill, and emphasised the need for credible appointments in INEC and the judiciary to safeguard democracy.
ActionAid Nigeria issued a set of demands, including:
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Transparent use of fuel subsidy savings for social investment.
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Comprehensive education sector overhaul and healthcare reforms.
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Stronger anti-corruption measures and governance reforms.
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Fiscal federalism that empowers states to manage resources.
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Gender-inclusive governance through passage of the Special Seats Bill.
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Credible, independent appointments in INEC and the judiciary.
“As we commemorate 65 years of independence, celebration without accountability is empty. Nigerians deserve more than promises. They deserve safety, dignity, justice, and equal opportunities,” Mamedu said, urging the government to act decisively to avert further decline.
