“If I had the chance to relocate to Ghana or any other country aside from Nigeria, I would leave,” says 35 year old, Sulaimon Jimoh speaking with visible hopelessness as he stood by the roadside in Abeokuta. In his small workshop nearby, a man working alongside his young son, visibly tired and overwhelmed, added “Things are so hard, it’s almost impossible to pay school fees for my children.” At a business centre, a young worker handling photocopies described life in Nigeria as “bondage” with a half-smile on his face, not of humor, but of despair.
These are the voices of residents of Abeokuta, Ogun State, reflecting on Nigeria’s recently concluded 65th Independence Day celebrations.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has marked 65 years since its independence. A day that should symbolize joy, pride, and reflection. Yet, for many citizens, the reality feels far from freedom. Instead of celebration, independence is described as “a myth,” with the nation weighed down by hardship, insecurity, and conditions that make daily life feel more like bondage than liberty.
Still, not everyone shares this view. 55-year-old professor Oluwapamilerin Fakile, a citizen still filled with hope for the country, insisted: “Nigeria at 65 is not a myth, it is real.” However, she admits that persistent killings, kidnappings, and unrest across the country make it appear unlivable.
When asked about the future, many respondents admitted to losing hope for a better Nigeria. Yet, some remain optimistic, saying they will keep trusting in God to grant the nation’s leaders wisdom to rule and lead them.
Citizens also voiced specific appeals: for government to address inflation and the rising cost of food and fuel, and to improve critical sectors such as health, electricity, and invest in areas such as agriculture and technology in a bid to move the economy beyond its heavy dependence on crude oil.
Sixty-five years on, the voices of Nigerians reflect both despair and resilience and the hope that freedom, in its truest sense, will one day be a reality.
