Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Nigeria marked 66 years of independence on Thursday with renewed calls from Christian and Muslim religious leaders for ethical leadership, national unity, justice and practical action to improve the lives of citizens.
The appeals came as the country reflected on six decades of self-rule marked by democratic transitions, military intervention, economic upheaval, insecurity and persistent debates over how to translate Nigeria’s considerable human and natural resources into broad-based prosperity.
In Plateau State, an interdenominational service held in Jos ahead of the anniversary placed moral leadership at the centre of the national conversation. Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo, said nation-building required more than government policy and administrative capacity. He called for leadership shaped by integrity, justice, responsibility and a commitment to the common good.
Mutfwang said Nigeria’s faith communities had an important role in national development, arguing that churches should remain voices for truth, compassion, reconciliation and responsible citizenship. He said public office should be understood as service and that public resources should be treated as a trust belonging to the people.
The governor also urged Nigerians to learn from the country’s difficult experiences by choosing dialogue over confrontation, justice over impunity and reconciliation over division. In his Independence Day message, he prayed for leaders who would fear God, uphold justice and serve with integrity.
The message from Plateau was echoed by Muslim leaders preparing for the anniversary in Abuja. The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs organised a national prayer at the National Mosque, bringing together Muslim scholars, chief imams, traditional leaders and representatives of Muslim communities.
Ishaq Oloyede, secretary-general of the council, said the gathering was intended to transcend political affiliations. He said prayers were offered for Nigeria, its leaders and those participating in the country’s political process, with an emphasis on commitment to the nation and accountability before God.
Imam Harun Mohammed Eze, a National Mosque imam and NSCIA legal official, said the prayers focused on major national concerns including insecurity, poverty, hunger and economic difficulties. He said religious leaders were seeking peace, stability and development while praying for public officials across the executive, legislature and judiciary.
The religious appeals came against a wider national debate about the effects of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms. In his Independence message, Tinubu said Nigeria had passed through the most difficult phase of its reforms and was entering a period in which government attention would increasingly focus on reducing living costs, creating jobs, expanding industry and spreading the benefits of growth.
The government has presented reforms introduced since 2023, including changes to fuel subsidies and foreign-exchange arrangements, as necessary measures to correct longstanding economic weaknesses. Critics and civil-society groups, however, have continued to stress that economic progress must be reflected in the daily lives of Nigerians through affordable food, improved security, employment and stronger public services.
The Christian Association of Nigeria said prosperity could not be measured only through economic indicators. In its Independence statement, CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh urged government to make lower food, transport and energy costs, employment, education, healthcare and support for vulnerable households measurable priorities.
CAN also stressed that security was fundamental to prosperity, noting that citizens need to be able to farm, trade and travel safely. The organisation called for safeguards to ensure that support programmes were transparently administered and protected from diversion.
The association also addressed the political environment ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning against using Christianity as a partisan political weapon. It reaffirmed its position as a non-partisan moral voice that should commend what is right while speaking out when citizens are suffering.
Other anniversary messages similarly focused on national cohesion. The Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, called on Nigerians to regard the country’s ethnic, religious and cultural diversity as a source of strength rather than division. He urged citizens to maintain peaceful coexistence and support efforts aimed at building a more secure and prosperous nation.
President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, in his Independence message, highlighted Nigeria’s resilience and called for unity and continued belief in the country’s future. He also paid tribute to members of the armed forces and security agencies who had lost their lives in service, while calling for integrity, compassion and devotion in public service.
These competing assessments underline the gap between official confidence in economic reforms and continuing public demands for visible improvements in living standards and governance.
The National Human Rights Commission, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre separately said economic reforms should ultimately improve living conditions, protect rights and strengthen security. Their positions reflect a broader expectation that economic stability should be accompanied by accountable institutions and tangible improvements in citizens’ welfare.
Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. Since then, the country has experienced civilian rule, military governments, a civil war, economic crises and several constitutional changes before returning to sustained democratic rule in 1999. The current Fourth Republic has now lasted more than two decades, although concerns about governance, corruption, insecurity and economic inequality remain central to public debate.
At 66, the calls from religious leaders place moral responsibility alongside economic and political questions. Their message is not simply for government to announce reforms, but for public authority to be exercised with accountability and concern for human dignity.
For millions of Nigerians, the meaning of independence remains closely tied to everyday realities: the ability to afford basic necessities, find productive work, access reliable public services, live securely and trust institutions to treat citizens fairly.
As Nigeria begins its 67th year as an independent nation, the anniversary messages from churches, mosques, government officials and civil-society organisations converge on a common expectation: that national progress should ultimately be measured not only by official declarations or economic statistics, but by whether citizens experience greater security, opportunity, justice and dignity in their daily lives.
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