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The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has called on Nigerians and political leaders to use the country’s 66th independence anniversary as an opportunity for sober reflection, national reconciliation, and renewed commitment to addressing insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, healthcare, and education.
In an Independence Day statement signed by its chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, the forum said Nigeria had made progress in some areas but continued to face challenges that made everyday life difficult for millions of citizens.
“This year’s independence anniversary should be less about ceremonies and rhetoric and more about sober reflection on the state of our nation,” NOSCEF said.
The Christian elders’ group said the anniversary should prompt Nigerians to ask fundamental questions about the country’s journey since independence and whether the nation was moving closer to the vision of its founding fathers.
“What exactly are we celebrating, and how far have we travelled towards the Nigeria envisioned by our founding fathers?” the statement asked.
NOSCEF expressed concern over what it described as growing divisions along ethnic, religious, regional, political and social lines.
According to the group, Nigeria’s diversity was originally envisioned as a source of strength but had increasingly become a basis for political and social mobilisation.
“We must therefore deliberately rebuild trust among Nigerians. No nation can make meaningful progress when its citizens increasingly see one another as enemies rather than fellow citizens,” it said.
The forum urged Nigerians to work towards restoring national cohesion and mutual trust.
On security, NOSCEF said the country could not claim to have fully overcome the challenges posed by banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal violence and other forms of criminality.
It said insecurity continued to affect lives, livelihoods and economic activity in different parts of the country.
“A country cannot truly celebrate independence when citizens are afraid to travel on its roads, farmers are unable to cultivate their land safely, communities are displaced and families live with the fear of losing loved ones,” the statement said.
The group consequently called on government to treat the protection of lives and property as its “most fundamental responsibility”.
While acknowledging improvements in some macroeconomic indicators, NOSCEF said the ultimate test of economic reforms should be their impact on households.
It argued that ordinary Nigerians were more concerned about food prices, transportation costs, rent, school fees, medical bills, electricity and their ability to provide basic necessities than government balance-sheet statistics.
“Economic reforms must ultimately translate into food on the table, decent wages, affordable healthcare, productive employment and a meaningful improvement in the standard of living,” it said.
The forum urged government to intensify measures aimed at protecting poor and vulnerable Nigerians from the effects of economic hardship.
NOSCEF also raised concerns over youth unemployment and the increasing desire among young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad.
The forum said Nigeria needed to create an environment in which young people could build productive lives within the country.
“We cannot build a prosperous nation while our young people increasingly believe that their only realistic future lies outside Nigeria,” it said.
It called for greater emphasis on job creation, entrepreneurship, technical education, industrialisation and skills development.
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“Our young people should not have to risk their lives crossing deserts and seas or leave the country simply to find opportunities that ought to exist at home,” the group added.
On healthcare, NOSCEF called for greater investment in hospitals, primary healthcare centres, medical personnel, medicines, equipment and health insurance, particularly for poor and vulnerable citizens.
It said government interventions would ultimately be judged by whether ordinary Nigerians could access quality healthcare when they needed it.
Education, the group said, remained one of the country’s most important long-term investments.
NOSCEF warned that inadequate infrastructure, teaching personnel, learning materials and conducive learning environments could have consequences for generations.
The forum acknowledged government budgetary allocations and interventions in the sector but said Nigerians needed to see “measurable improvements in the quality, accessibility and affordability of education”.
“We must not allow poverty to determine which Nigerian child receives a quality education,” it added.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the forum urged Nigerians to demand a higher standard of political engagement.
NOSCEF called on political parties, candidates, religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and voters to insist on issue-based politics.
It listed security, employment, education, healthcare, institutional strengthening, national unity and accountability among the issues it said should shape the political debate.
“The coming elections must not become another occasion for Nigerians to be divided along ethnic, religious or regional lines,” the statement said.
The forum also urged political actors to conduct peaceful campaigns and reject hate speech, religious incitement, ethnic mobilisation, intimidation and electoral violence.
“Elections should be about the future of Nigeria, not merely the acquisition of political power,” NOSCEF said.
As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, the Christian elders called for a renewed national commitment to justice, equity, security, accountability, responsible leadership, economic opportunity and reconciliation.
“At 66, Nigeria should be looking beyond the politics of survival,” the group said.
It maintained that the country’s challenges should not lead citizens to despair, arguing that a better Nigeria remained possible if leaders and citizens committed themselves to strengthening institutions and placing national interests above sectional considerations.
“The Nigeria of our dreams is still possible, but achieving it requires leadership that listens, institutions that work, citizens who remain vigilant and a political culture that places national interest above personal and sectional interests,” NOSCEF said.
The Christian group called for unity and national renewal.
“Nigeria must be renewed. Nigeria must be united. Nigeria must work for all her citizens,” the forum declared.
NOSCEF said the anniversary should ultimately reaffirm the goal of building a country where citizens can live safely, educate their children, earn decent livelihoods, access quality healthcare and participate meaningfully in national development.
