Nigeria at 66: Why We Must Learn to Build for the Long Term

I use this column for unsolicited observations about Nigerian life, politics, culture and the small habits that shape us. This time, I am thinking about power, protocol and what a country’s place in the world says about its history. Diplomatic rituals matter. Who receives a visiting leader, where they are received and how they are hosted can signal how seriously nations regard one another. In 1961, US Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson received Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa during Nigeria’s early years of independence. America expected Nigeria to matter. China, despite decades of upheaval and painful mistakes, built industrial capacity, infrastructure, expertise and institutions over time. Nigeria, meanwhile, suffered coups, civil war and repeated breaks in democratic and institutional continuity. Too often, we have restarted instead of building on what came before. At 66, Nigeria still has the people, resources and talent to change course. I am not giving up on us. We may not need to become China, but we must learn to build patiently, strengthen institutions and plan beyond the next government.

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