By Taibat Ummi Yakubu
As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, the Northern States Christian Elders Forum, NOSCEF, has questioned the meaning of freedom in a country where millions of citizens still struggle to travel safely, farm without fear or live without the constant threat of violence.
In a strongly worded Independence Day message, the forum said national celebrations should not be reduced to speeches, parades and ceremonies while insecurity, poverty, unemployment and social divisions continue to affect the lives of Nigerians.
The statement, signed by NOSCEF Chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, said Nigeria’s independence should serve as an opportunity for leaders and citizens to reflect honestly on the state of the nation and the kind of country being built for future generations.
The Christian elders argued that genuine independence must be measured by the safety, dignity and economic wellbeing of citizens, rather than by celebrations alone.
“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 forum said.
According to NOSCEF, Nigeria possesses enormous human and natural resources capable of supporting a prosperous society, but the country has continued to struggle to convert those advantages into better living conditions for a large proportion of its population.
The group identified insecurity as one of the biggest obstacles to national development, alongside ethnic and religious tensions, political divisions, mutual suspicion and the increasing use of sectional identities during political mobilisation.
It therefore called on governments at all levels to make the protection of lives and property a priority, stressing that development cannot thrive where citizens are constantly worried about their safety.
The forum warned that growing divisions among Nigerians could further weaken national unity if not urgently addressed.
“No nation can make meaningful progress when its citizens increasingly see one another as enemies rather than fellow citizens,” NOSCEF said.
On the economy, the group acknowledged that some economic indicators may be showing signs of improvement but insisted that such figures must eventually translate into tangible relief for ordinary Nigerians.
It said the real measure of economic progress should be whether families can comfortably afford basic necessities such as food, transportation, accommodation, school fees, healthcare and electricity.
The elders consequently urged the government to strengthen programmes aimed at protecting poor and vulnerable Nigerians while creating more opportunities for young people.
They called for greater attention to job creation, entrepreneurship, technical and vocational education, industrial development and skills acquisition.
The forum expressed concern over the growing desire among young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad, saying the trend reflects a lack of confidence in the country's ability to provide them with a secure and prosperous future.
“We cannot build a prosperous nation while our young people increasingly believe that their only realistic future lies outside Nigeria,” it said.
NOSCEF also urged the government to invest more heavily in education and healthcare, stressing that budget allocations and policy announcements would mean little if citizens could not access affordable and quality services.
As attention gradually shifts towards the 2027 general elections, the elders appealed to political parties, candidates and voters to avoid turning the electoral process into another battleground for ethnic and religious mobilisation.
Instead, they urged politicians to make security, employment, education, healthcare, accountability and national unity central issues in their campaigns.
“The coming elections must not become another occasion for Nigerians to be divided along ethnic, religious or regional lines,” the forum said.
The group called for a broader national renewal built around justice, fairness, security, accountability, responsible leadership and reconciliation.
Despite its concerns, NOSCEF urged Nigerians not to abandon hope, saying the country’s future remains a shared responsibility.
“Our Independence Anniversary should remind us that Nigeria belongs to all of us. No region, ethnic group, religious community or political party owns Nigeria,” the forum said.
As the national flag flies across the country to commemorate another year of independence, the elders' message places a difficult question at the centre of the celebration: what does freedom mean to a citizen who cannot safely travel, farm, work or provide basic necessities for the family?
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