Nigeria has no significant achievement since independence, NOIPolls alleges

A polling service focused on the West African region NOIPolls Limited in its latest poll conducted across Nigeria claimed that the country has had no significant achievement since independence.

The organisation in its annual Independence Day Poll result released on Monday, October 2, revealed that 31 percent of adult Nigerians opined that Nigeria as a nation has not achieved anything since it attained the status of Independence in 1960.

Furthermore, 23 percent cited insecurity as one of the greatest challenges Nigeria as a nation has faced since independence. Other challenges mentioned are economy (20 percent), corruption (20 percent), bad leadership (17 percent), and ethnicity/tribalism (8 percent).

NOIPolls noted that notwithstanding the challenges, Nigerians still pinpoint some achievements the country has made since her Independence. The top three achievements include democracy (14 percent), national unity (9 percent), and telecommunication (7 percent). Other mentions include large population (3 percent), electricity (3 percent), education (3 percent), security (3 percent), and social cohesion (3 percent) amongst others.

On the single most important issue the current leadership of the country should address in the coming year, 28 percent of Nigerians mentioned the economy, which is closely followed by insecurity (21 percent). Other issues mentioned are poverty alleviation (13 percent), job creation (9 percent), corruption (8 percent), bad governance (3 percent), electricity (3 percent), and education (3 percent).

The United States of America top countries that have positively been impactful to the country’s political and economic development since Independence with 27 percent; it is by China (24 percent), while the United Kingdom which colonized Nigeria polled 17 percent.

Other countries mentioned are India, Canada, and Germany with 3 percent each, while Israel, France, Saudi Arabia, and Russia have 2 percent each. However, 22 percent of the respondents stated that no country has had any positive impact on the political and economic development of the country since independence.

The Independence Day is an official national holiday in Nigeria, celebrated on October 1 every year. It marks the country’s proclamation of Independence from British rule on October 1, 1960. Itis commemorated annually by the government and the citizens with pomp and pageantry. However, in the last decade, activities to commemorate the anniversary have continued to decline, a clear reflection of the state of the nation.

During a press conference in Abuja to herald this year’s Independence celebration, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, had stated that Nigeria will mark its 63rd Independence Anniversary with a low-key celebration.

According to him, the decision to scale back the festivities was taken considering the country’s economic challenges. “The celebration is low-key due to the realities on the ground.” But the anniversary will be celebrated under the theme ‘Nigeria @ 63, Renewed Hope for Unity and Prosperity,” he said.

NOIPolls research and data on public opinion and consumer markets enhance activities of decision makers across all the vibrant sectors of the Nigerian economy.