The recently-released World Happiness Report 2025, which ranks Nigeria number 105, out of 147 countries in the world, is depressing, but not surprising to even casual observers of events unfolding in the country. The report, as inaccurate as it might be, is disheartening because it indicates vividly the deteriorating living conditions in Nigeria over the past years.

Nostalgically, Nigeria was the happiest country globally only 22 years ago in 2003, as recorded by the same body measuring global happiness among countries. That the country slid to such a lowly position speaks volumes about how the factors that inspire happiness in Nigeria are fast disappearing over the years. Clearly, both the government and the people of Nigeria are starkly reminded that things are not the best, and the country is not where it can be. It is a challenge that requires sincere and concerted efforts by governments at all levels to reverse.

In particular, government officials, starting from President Bola Tinubu, should be told that Nigerians are not deceived by their pretext that all is well. Nor are the citizens blinded to the fact that only a few people are enjoying the bulk of the commonwealth of Nigeria, at the expense of the hapless masses.
 
The World Happiness Report 2025 shows Finland as the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. Libya emerged as the highest-ranked nation in Africa, securing the 79th position, surpassing its neighbours in life satisfaction and societal well-being despite ongoing challenges. Nordic countries, including Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, also remain at the top in the same order. The United States, which fell out of the top 20 for the first time last year, now ranks 24th, having reached its highest position of 11th back in 2012.
  
The World Happiness Report, published on the UN’s International Day of Happiness, is released yearly. The report is based on factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. Considering the scarce availability of these factors in Nigeria, it is not difficult to see why the country has plummeted so. When Nigeria was ranked the happiest country in the world in 2003, Nigerians were considered optimistic and content despite economic and political challenges at the time.

However, since 2003, Nigeria’s ranking in global happiness indexes has been plummeting. For example, in 2019, Nigeria ranked 85th out of 147 countries; in 2020, 115th; 2021, 116th; 2022, 118th; 2024, 102nd. Now, in 2025, Nigeria has been ranked 105th out of 147 countries.
  
The low ranking is due to the deterioration of living conditions in recent years. Food, potable water, electricity, shelter and primary healthcare have become very expensive and are no longer guaranteed. Over 40 per cent of Nigerians live in poverty, and wealth inequality is increasing. Rising inflation, particularly in food and fuel prices, has significantly worsened the cost of living. High unemployment rates, especially among youth, have led to frustration and declining optimism. 

Beyond these, insecurity, epitomised by Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, and kidnappings for ransom, has created widespread fear and instability. As a result, many skilled Nigerians, including doctors, engineers, and IT professionals, are emigrating in search of better opportunities and a more friendly working and living environment.
 
In recent years, too, the country has become suicidal. In 2018, Nigeria was ranked among suicide-prone countries, and today, it ranks fifth globally among countries with the highest suicide rates. In June 2018, it was reported that 79 Nigerians committed suicide between April 8, 2017, and May 12, 2018. In 2018, the African Development Bank (AfDB) revealed that the World Poverty Clock named Nigeria the poverty capital of the world. That same year, Nigeria was ranked among the worst malaria-hit countries. In 2018, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranked Nigeria as the 103rd hungriest country out of 119. In the same 2018, the World Bank placed Nigeria among the seven worst countries on its Human Capital Index.
   
The worsening situation in Nigeria is certainly alarming, but largely traceable to bad leadership and failure of government, given that Nigeria has huge potential, human and material, which only requires proper and honest harnessing to make it one of the happiest and greatest economies globally.
  
The elimination of avoidable human misery is a challenge the Tinubu government must address. Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services, as well as security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” These provisions are equally well-documented in the 1999 Constitution. A government fails if it allows the living conditions of its people to deteriorate.
   
The Tinubu government and the 36 state governments will do well to reduce the hardships of the people through concrete policies that improve the well-being of Nigerians. Governments must invest in healthcare, insurance schemes, low-cost housing, and public transportation, among other basic needs of Nigerians. 
  
Private institutions, religious organisations, corporate bodies, and NGOs must complement government efforts. As part of corporate social responsibility, they can fund education and healthcare, provide scholarships, offer free food and shelter, run emergency relief programmes, support free clinics and awareness campaigns, build schools and vocational training centres to equip people with skills for employment. But the government has the duty of providing a secure, convivial environment conducive for businesses, living and foreign investment.
  
Even if Nigeria is not the happiest country in the world, it has no reason to be under the economic, security and social siege she is currently experiencing. Nigeria has the potential to successfully improve its citizens’ well-being and to bounce back as one of the happiest countries in the world. The key lies in good leadership to achieve the security and welfare of Nigerians, which, according to the Constitution, shall be the primary purpose of government. Any government that cannot give Nigerians security and welfare is not worth its name.