NIGERIA @AGE 66: CREDIT OR FAILURE?
By Abbati Bako, Political Scientist/ Strategist abbatibako@gmail.com
October 1st, 1960, we danced. Green-White-Green rose. The Union Jack fell. Zik said, “Nigeria is free.” Ahmadu Bello, Awolowo and Balewa promised paradise.
October 1st, 2026, we are 66 years old. A grandfather in African age. So the question is brutal but necessary: At 66, is Nigeria a credit or a failure?
Let us be honest with ourselves.
THE CREDIT SIDE—WE DID NOT FAIL COMPLETELY:
1. We Kept The Country One:
With 250 ethnic groups, 500 languages, 4 civil coup attempts, a 30 months civil war between 1967-1970 that killed 1 million citizens, we are still one nation. But Sudan broke. Yugoslavia broke. The Soviet Union broke. Nigeria refused to break. That is credit.
2. We Are African Power:
From ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone to peacekeeping in Darfur, to Afrobeats — Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido shutting down Madison Square Garden — Nigeria still carries Africa on its head. Our movies, our music, our football gave Africa pride.
3. We Built Human Capital:
In 1960, literacy was 25%. Today 69%. In 1960 we had one university of Ibadan. Today we have 274 universities. Our doctors are in London, our engineers in Texas, our professors in Canada. Even in Japan, Nigeria is exporting brain, not just oil.
THE FAILURE SIDE WE BETRAYED THE DREAM:
1. Economy of a Giant With Legs of Straw:
In 1960, Nigeria’s GDP was bigger than Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea combined. We had groundnut pyramids, cocoa, and palm oil. In 2026, Malaysia GDP is $430bn, Nigeria $350bn with 4 times Malaysia’s population. We turned from producer to importer, we import rice, meat, fish, textile, toothpicks, fuel, and even palm oil.
At 66, 133 million Nigerians are in multidimensional poverty. Minimum wage N70,000 cannot buy a bag of rice. That is failure of leadership, not of people.
2. Power Failure Darkness @ 66:
In 1960, we generated 300MW for 35 million people. In 2026, we will generate 4,500MW only for 240 million people. South Africa generates 58,000MW for 60 million. At 66, we still shout “Up NEPA!” A country in darkness cannot industrialize and get economic development.
3. Unity Without Justice:
We preach unity but practice injustice. Federal character on paper, nepotism in reality. Merit killed. In 1960, First Republic leaders argued ideology — Action Group’s socialism, NPC’s conservatism. Today politicians have no ideology, only stomach infrastructure. Defection from one party to another is business. Unfortunately, our Democracy is bleeding and shrinking every year.
MY VERDICT AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST:
Nigeria is not a failure as a nation. Nigeria is a failure of elite management.
The Nigerian people never failed. The market woman in Onitsha never failed. The farmer in Gusau never failed. The students in UNILAG, BUK or ABU never failed.
The elite failed — military elite 1966-1999, and political elite 1999-2026. They converted independence from a national project to a private estate.
At 66, Nigeria is like a brilliant child from a poor home who passed JAMB with 320 but no money to pay school fees. The brain is there. Unfortunately, the opportunity is blocked by the country’s poor policies.
WHAT MUST HAPPEN BEFORE 70?
1. Restructure or Burst:
Give states power over resources, police, electricity. True federalism like the 1963 constitution.
2. Power Revolution:
Declare an emergency on 50,000MW. No power, no industry, no FDI, never to get economic development.
3. Production, Not Palliative: Stop sharing rice. Start building factories.
In conclusion, at 66, Nigeria is half credit, half failure. But 66 is not too old to start again. China started again at 70 under Deng Xiaoping in 1978. Today it is a superpower.
Nigeria can still rise. But not with the same old method and poor policies.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. Abbati Bako, Global Political Analyst and Political Communications Consultant abbatibako@gmail.com +2349077889959
