Five Young People Tell Neusroom How They See Nigeria in Next 10 Years
On October 3, 2023, Nigeria celebrated 63 years of independence. However, the nation finds itself at a critical juncture, grappling with a multitude of challenges that have left many yearning for a brighter future.
During his independence speech, President Bola Tinubu, who announced the removal of fuel subsidy during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, said he is “attuned to the hardships that have come” as a result of some of the policies put forth by his administration.
He, however, added that although “reforms may be painful, it is what greatness and the future require.”
Despite the President’s words, Neusroom’s findings reveal that many Nigerians are not optimistic about what lies ahead. When Neusroom spoke with five young Nigerians, their shared sentiment regarding the country’s future resonated with a Pew research study, which showed widespread dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s trajectory.
29-year-old Ernest Uchenna, based in Lagos when asked if he is optimistic that Nigeria will be better in 10 years, claims that the present administration has “no transparent structure that will help improve its current state on a long term run.”
Another young Nigerian, who preferred to be identified simply as David, pointed to corruption as a pervasive issue across all sectors, including the judiciary, military, police, and education, as the primary reason for his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. When asked about his optimism for Nigeria’s future, he replied, “I am not optimistic until our election process is completely reformed.”
Nearly six months after the February 25, 2023, Presidential election, disputes arising from the election are yet to be resolved. While the Presidential election tribunal affirmed Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s duly elected President, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) have filed an appeal at the Supreme Court. Controversies surrounding Tinubu’s candidacy, including discrepancies in the Chicago State University academic records he submitted to Nigeria’s electoral body, have further complicated the situation.
As the election dispute awaits a hearing at the Supreme Court, all eyes are once again on the apex court to either confirm Tinubu as the legitimate President or overturn the election results.
For Favour Onuoha from Abia State, his belief in the country’s brighter future hinges on the outcome of the presidential election petition at the Supreme Court. “I can’t say for sure right now. I can only wait for the Supreme Court’s judgment on some critical matters,” he said.
Although the ongoing litigation may have cast more doubt on Nigerians’ faith in the judiciary, a 2019 survey by Pew Research Center revealed that 54 percent of Nigerians do not believe the court system treats everyone fairly. Additionally, a staggering 72 percent of Nigerians believe that most politicians are corrupt.
While Onyenjuala Chidinma believes that electing a credible president can help steer Nigeria in the right direction, Godspower Izuka contends that systemic reforms across various sectors are essential for a turnaround.
“Nigeria will not improve unless we eliminate certain hindrances. We are burdened by numerous issues that hold us back. In our country, crime and criminals are often rewarded with prestigious positions and offices. How can we expect progress in such a situation?” he said.
