A country at crossroads: Should Nigeria Retire at 65?

BY RICHARD OGBONNA (Ph.D)

On October 1st, 2025, Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary. In human terms, 65 is regarded as the age of retirement—a time when individuals step back from active service, having given their best years to society. This coincidence raises a provocative question: should Nigeria, as a nation, “retire” at 65? The question, though rhetorical, reflects the frustration of citizens who believe that, despite six and a half decades of self-rule, Nigeria is yet to attain true independence or fulfill its enormous potential.

When Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, the promise of freedom was not just political sovereignty but also the hope of building a prosperous, just, and secure nation. Sadly, 65 years later, the evidence suggests otherwise. Nigeria appears trapped in a cycle of economic hardship, insecurity, corruption, and political mismanagement. Instead of progressing towards nationhood, it seems stuck in what some describe as “internal colonialism”, a system where the ruling elite exploit and suppress the masses in ways reminiscent of the colonial past.

The symptoms of this failure are glaring. Millions of Nigerians live below the poverty line despite the country’s abundant natural and human resources. The economy is in perpetual crisis, with inflation eroding the value of wages and unemployment pushing the youth towards despair, migration, or crime. Insecurity has become the order of the day: terrorism in the Northeast, banditry in the Northwest, kidnapping in the South, and separatist agitations in the Southeast. These realities make it difficult for citizens to believe they are part of a functioning, independent state.

More worrisome is the failure of political leadership. The APC-led government rose to power on promises of fighting corruption, improving security, and reviving the economy. Yet, by 2025, many Nigerians believe those promises have largely remained unfulfilled. Instead of hope, disillusionment prevails, and the call for change ahead of the 2027 general elections is becoming louder. Nigerians are tired, not just of one government, but of a political class that seems more interested in self-enrichment than in serving the people.

In this context, the metaphor of “retirement” becomes relevant. Should Nigeria continue in its current trajectory, pretending all is well, or should it take a radical step, restructuring itself in a way that allows for renewal? Some argue for self-determination of certain regions, while others call for a return to true federalism or regional government, as was practiced in the First Republic. Regionalism, if pursued sincerely, could allow Nigeria’s diverse units to govern themselves more effectively, compete in development, and reduce the suffocating centralization that fuels inefficiency and corruption.

Yet, to ask if Nigeria should “retire” is also to confront the deeper question: can a nation retire? Nations do not retire in the same way individuals do. They either collapse, fragment, or reinvent themselves. The danger of collapse is real if current challenges persist, but Nigeria’s best option in my revered opinion is reinvention. This reinvention must start with leadership, and leadership that is visionary, selfless, and accountable. The upcoming 2027 elections provide an opportunity for Nigerians to demand such leadership, not through mere slogans, but by insisting on competence, integrity, and people-centered governance.

Nigeria at 65 still has untapped strength. It has the largest youth population in Africa, immense natural wealth, and a vibrant culture. What it lacks is a system that allows these strengths to flourish. A restructured Nigeria; where regions or states have greater autonomy, where resources are managed responsibly, and where the rule of law is upheld—can still rise to meet the dreams of its founding fathers. But without change, the metaphor of retirement may become literal: a nation too tired, too fractured, and too directionless to continue.

In conclusion, Nigeria should not retire at 65, but it must not continue in its present form either. Retirement implies an end, while reinvention implies a beginning and Nigerians yearn for a new beginning. The choice before Nigeria is clear: either it reinvents itself through genuine reforms, responsible leadership, and a return to true federalism, or it risks disintegration. Nigerians deserve better, and the time to demand that better future is now. At 65, the nation stands at a crossroads and seriously on the brink. The path it chooses will determine whether the next generation celebrates independence as a reality or continues to mourn it as an illusion.

OGBONNA, Ph.D based in UK writes for a better functional Nigeria.

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Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.