As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence today, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Federal and state governments to build a country where democracy translates into security, dignity, economic opportunity, accountable governance and an improved quality of life for citizens.

Also, the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) has appealed for patience, urging Nigerians to continue supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration and noting that the reforms embarked upon over the last three years are aimed at achieving lasting results for future generations.

In another development, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International Chapter in Nigeria, has challenged the Federal Government to end impunity, strengthen democratic institutions and reverse what it described as the shrinking civic space as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

In a statement signed by its Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA acknowledged Nigerians’ resilience and the country’s progress since independence, including the return to democratic rule in 1999 and more than two decades of uninterrupted civilian government.

However, CAPPA said Nigeria’s democratic journey must ultimately be assessed by whether citizens can live safely, participate meaningfully in governance, afford basic necessities and trust public institutions to work in their interest.

The organisation said Independence Day had, for many Nigerians, become little more than an acknowledgement of the country’s political existence, as economic hardship and insecurity had pushed some citizens to seek opportunities abroad or consider leaving the country.

NASFAT, however, stressed that transformational journeys were often challenging at the beginning, but with patience and perseverance, the benefits of the reforms would eventually be realised.

The National President of NASFAT, Ayodeji AbdulWahid AbdulRauf, in a statement commemorating Nigeria’s independence anniversary, titled ‘Nigerians Must Be More Nigerian to Nigeria’, said that Nigerians also had a huge role to play in the ongoing efforts to reset the country, noting that Nigeria’s future cannot depend solely on governments, political leaders, or public institutions.

CISLAC, on the other hand, said the anniversary should not be reduced to ceremonial celebrations, insisting that the real test of independence was whether Nigerians could live in peace, freely express themselves, obtain justice and enjoy economic opportunities.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organisation said democracy must go beyond elections and changes of government to deliver accountable leadership, security, justice, dignity and economic prosperity.

ISLAC’s position came amid concern over the reported arrest and remand of five men in Maiduguri, Borno State, on allegations linked to printing and wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”

The men were reportedly charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.

CISLAC said prosecuting citizens over peaceful political expression raised serious questions about freedom of expression and the state of Nigeria’s civic space.