It’s been 60 years since Nigeria got her independence from the colonial masters; October 1 is the unforgettable day for every patriotic Nigerian. However, there are certain obstacles and achievements, ranging from social, political, and economy.
Nigeria is the largest country in Africa in terms of population and even some certain development. It’s clear that we are the “giant of Africa.” There’s, therefore, the need to see some changes and positive development in our dear country.
There are problems that have been bedeviling the country since 1960 to date such as, insecurity, communal clashes, indigene and settler phenomenon just as no society has attained 100 per cent peace.
So far, Nigeria has developed based on security and peacekeeping. We have impressive records of tackling insurgency, growing a powerful armed forces, regular recruitment of youths into the forces, and carrying out intelligence investigations in maintenance of peace around the nation. But, there are few poles that need to be carefully observed and be amend by the government in ongoing security matters. It took us about 60 years to build this nation and we are still on it, the national security seems to be going smoothly right and otherwise. The armed forces are trying hard to close the chapter of conflicts disturbing our peace. Undoubtedly, we can not meet our goals unless the government and the society unite against corruption in security matters.
Education is said to be the backbone of every moral society and national development. But in Nigeria, such theory exists only for the past years as our forefathers considered it a very vital way while nowadays and as Nigeria clocks 60 years as nation, education has been among the most good for nothing systems. The number of our students is always rising, the employed teachers from the elementary level to the tertiary level are no more giving their best for patriotism.
There’s the need for maximum intervention by the government to change the undesirable trend of education in this nation by meeting the demands of the teachers, reconstruction of the schools, removing nepotism in employment, and do all they can to make Nigeria and its people great.
While celebrating our 60th year of independence, our people need a two minute silence for reconsideration of our health care. What I mean here is that, we spent 60 years as an independent republic yet, we are so weak to maintain the health care of our millions of citizens. Though the government has tried by building and rehabilitating our hospitals there’s a need for more focus. In the vein, the doctors are fewer than expected to treat millions of our citizens. There are also cases of corruption in our hospitals by the management, some doctors pay more attention to their private hospitals than that of the government and nobody is raising a voice against such a corrupt practice. The cost of drugs is always escalating and many more ill cases that the government needs to address with utmost concern.
Also, there’s need to double-check the issue of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping, herders and farmers clashes that pervade the country. It’s crystal clear that Boko Haram insurgents have killed thousands of innocent citizens. There’s a need for government to take a deep breath and think about the solution of the above-mentioned problems.
Nonetheless, one might ask himself about the future of Nigerians because some of our leaders are there just to provide for their families not to serve people that voted them into office. On this special day of ours, I want to appeal to our leaders to fear Almighty God in whatever they do.
As we celebrate this day, I wish our leaders wisdom, and our dear country peace and harmony; long live Nigeria.
Kasim Isa Muhammad,Potiskum, Yobe state
