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The President of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has identified weak institutions, poor democratic participation, insecurity and persistent social divisions as the major factors slowing down Nigeria’s development, saying the country can only realize its vast potential when its institutions begin to work effectively for citizens.
Hayab said this in a statement on Thursday marking the 66th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, in which he compared the country’s development to that of nations such as Singapore and Malaysia, which he described as contemporaries of Nigeria.
He said Nigeria continued to grapple with the consequences of weak governance and poor follow-through, despite its abundant human and material resources.
“Division is why Nigeria is still in trouble”
According to Hayab, Nigeria’s challenges require fundamental strengthening of institutions rather than relying solely on individual administrations.
He said institutions responsible for security, education, economic opportunity, democratic accountability and public services must be strengthened to enable the country to make sustainable progress. Project reports
Hayab also blamed persistent ethnic, religious and regional divisions for weakening the sense of national ownership needed to move the country forward.
“When you truly bring Nigerians together, you will see that the division that exists among us is the reason why, at 66, we are still crawling.
“But we can make a quick leap in a matter of years if we close ranks and start seeing ourselves as Nigerians, treating this country as our country, as our nation,” he said.
He urged citizens and leaders to start viewing Nigeria as a common project, rather than addressing national issues primarily through ethnic, religious or regional interests.
Hayab blames voter apathy
The NCA president also linked the weakness of democratic institutions to low citizen participation in elections, warning that voter apathy could create space for manipulation of the electoral process and weaken citizens’ ability to demand accountability from elected officials.
He urged Nigerians to take greater interest in elections, arguing that active participation is essential to producing leaders chosen by the people.
Official data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that 93,469,008 voters registered for the 2023 general elections, while the turnout in the presidential elections was 26.7%.
Hayab said credible elections would have a greater impact if citizens actively participated in selecting their leaders and subsequently held elected officials accountable.
“Just start having credible elections. All we need today to change Nigeria is to have good elections that give us the people we have chosen,” he said.
Insecurity threatens development
Hayab also identified insecurity as a major manifestation of institutional weakness, saying the failure to adequately protect lives and property continues to affect agriculture, education, transportation, trade and investment.
He urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts against criminal elements and prevent non-state actors from undermining peace and security across the country.
“The government must sit down and not allow non-state actors to dictate what our peace should look like,” he said.
According to him, effective institutions must translate public resources into services and infrastructures that directly benefit citizens.
He noted that roads, hospitals, schools and other public facilities should not be viewed as a favor done to citizens, but as a liability funded by public resources.
Nigeria can learn from Singapore, Malaysia
Hayab cited Singapore and Malaysia as examples of countries that have seen significant economic and institutional progress, saying Nigeria could draw lessons from their emphasis on effective institutions, disciplined governance, investment and long-term development planning.
He said Nigeria must look inward and address institutional weaknesses that prevent it from converting its abundant resources into sustainable development.
He stressed that institution-building should extend beyond politics and security to education, the economy, religion and other areas of national life.
He also encouraged Nigerians to become more economically active through legitimate businesses and investments, saying that ethnic and religious considerations should not prevent citizens from taking advantage of opportunities that improve their economic well-being.
According to him, rebuilding Nigeria requires complementary roles from both government and citizens, with authorities strengthening institutions, providing security and delivering essential services, while citizens actively participate in democratic and economic processes.
As the country celebrates 66 years of independence, Hayab called for a renewed commitment to national unity, credible elections, institutional accountability and active citizenship, saying Nigeria could overcome its development challenges if citizens collectively took responsibility for the Nigerian project.
