Nigeria marks its 65th year of independence with a mixture of celebration and reflection.
The milestone provides an opportunity to assess whether citizens have truly gained freedom from the challenges that still shape their daily lives.
At independence in 1960, the country’s promise was anchored on economic growth, unity, and security.
More than six decades later, the twin issues of poverty and insecurity remain dominant features of national life.
Across rural and urban communities, many Nigerians still live below the poverty line, struggling to meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, and education.
Despite the country’s natural resources, income inequality is widespread, leaving millions excluded from opportunities for development.
In recent years, inflation and currency instability have deepened hardship, with households forced to adjust to rising costs of essential goods.
Unemployment, particularly among the youth, compounds this challenge, limiting social mobility and fuelling frustration across communities.
The reality is that freedom from colonial rule did not automatically translate into freedom from economic hardship.
Successive governments have launched policies aimed at tackling poverty, yet the gap between intentions and outcomes remains visible.
In the same way, insecurity continues to erode the sense of safety that independence promised.
Armed groups, bandits, and insurgents have unsettled large parts of the country, forcing thousands to abandon their homes.
In several regions, families live with the fear of attacks, kidnappings, or communal clashes, making daily survival more urgent than long-term planning.
The displacement caused by violence has also disrupted farming, trade, and education, pushing more Nigerians into poverty.
This cycle shows how poverty and insecurity are linked, with one feeding into the other.
Experts often point to the civil war, military rule, and later insurgencies as moments that reshaped the country’s security outlook.
The struggle to keep the country stable has sometimes overshadowed long-term investment in development.
At 65, Nigeria’s resilience as a nation is evident, but so are the deep challenges confronting its people.
Independence anniversaries are often marked by speeches and parades, yet the everyday reality for many citizens is measured by whether they can afford food, access jobs, or walk safely to school.
The question, therefore, is not just about political freedom but about how far that freedom has translated into a better quality of life.
The government has pledged reforms in infrastructure, agriculture, and industrialisation, arguing that these will reduce poverty and create employment.
Security operations have also been intensified to address banditry, insurgency, and organised crime.
However, citizens continue to measure progress against their lived experiences, which reflect mixed results.
Some regions report improved access to services, while others remain cut off due to insecurity or neglect.
Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary therefore becomes both a celebration of endurance and a reminder of unfinished tasks.
True freedom, many argue, goes beyond lowering a colonial flag; it means living in dignity, with access to opportunities, safety, and hope for the future.
As the country steps into another year of its journey, the central question remains: how can Nigeria transform political independence into genuine liberation from poverty and insecurity for its people?
The answers will shape not only how the nation celebrates future anniversaries but also how its citizens define freedom itself.