By Clement Abayomi
Nigeria, once labelled by Asari Dokubo as “an artificial entity that should be disbanded”, remains vulnerable to criticism both locally and internationally.
In fact, Trump loyalist Elias Gerasoulis, for instance, has recently amplified Dokubo’s sentiment when he declared that Nigeria is “not a true nation, but an artificial neo-colonial construct of the British”.
Although many Nigerians see the foregoing as one of the harshest truths that cannot be argued, Nigeria as a nation is far more than an entity joined together in an “unholy marriage” of 1914, far more than a mere dot on the map of Africa or the world.
Nigeria, for those who live within its borders, is a daily test of patience and fortitude, a site of tension, a burden to bear, a ray of hope, a mix of contradictions, and a test of survival.
Some Nigerians praise their country, while others condemn it. And even in its failures, many Nigerians remain proudly Nigerians. This article presents Nigerians’ perceptions of their country. What they say shows that the country is not really what the officials say about the country.
Interviews with various respondents reveal their real experiences with systemic issues, their ability to bounce back, their faith, their frustrations, their sense of self-respect, and their disappointments.
Views from Nigerians living in different parts of the country have been gathered to answer a straightforward but unsettling question: how do Nigerians really see their country?
When interviewed, Gabriel Faniyan, a marketing communications professional from Lagos, described Nigeria as “a great country with great potential”. He, however, admits that Nigeria is burdened by many issues that he believes are “everyone’s fault”. He views Nigeria as a “necessary challenge” that citizens must confront together. According to him, one of the biggest misconceptions is that the government (alone) is the problem.
“People think that the government is the problem but it’s not, it’s everyone. The government and leaders are representative of the people,” he said.
In his view, leaders are products of society and citizens often encourage corruption through their expectations.
“What society expects them to do is one of the reasons that they loot. For instance if you have a senator uncle that gives you 1,000 you will say he is stingy,” he explained.
Mr Faniyan, nonetheless, says he is proud to be Nigerian.
“I am proud to be a Nigerian because that’s what I am, no other choice I can’t be anything else …. Nigeria is rich in culture and really has amazing people this is why I am proud to be one and the most pressing issue I think is corruption,” he concluded.
Speaking from Benin, Babajide Fakeye stated that Nigeria is “not really independent, although sovereign”. He believes the country is run by foreign entities through officials who carry out external agendas.
“I view Nigeria as a country seems to be run by foreign entities through selected/elected personnel that carry out most of their agenda,” he said.
Going forward, Fakeye rejects the misconception that Nigeria lacks money. He instead attributes this to government’s responsibility to make available resources for everyone:
“One of the biggest misconception in Nigeria is that there is no money. To address this, government has to make resources almost available for all and sundry.”
He added that Nigerians continue to survive despite hardship, which he interprets as evidence that Nigeria is “naturally and spiritually blessed”.
Reacting from Osun State, Christianah Obasi describes Nigeria as “a place where mediocrity is the norm”. She challenges the misconception that Nigeria isn’t that bad and argues that conditions are worse than many admit. “The biggest misconception would be that it isn’t that bad,” she said.
Obasi states clearly that she is not proud to be Nigerian and identifies unemployment as the most pressing issue confronting the country today.
“I’m not proud to be a Nigerian. I think the most pressing issue is unemployment,” she said.
Further, entrepreneur Oluwaseun Ajayi responding from Lagos pinpoints the country’s lack of development, stating that Nigeria doesn’t seem to be developing at all due to a corrupt government that prioritises self-interest.
“I can’t say much but it doesn’t seem we are developing at all…. Corrupt government who only thinks about themselves alone,“ she said.
She reacted to the widespread belief that Nigerians are happy, explaining that most people are merely trying to remain sane amid a declining economy and low finances. Despite this, she says she is proud to be Nigerian because Nigerians are “naturally happy people” and expresses hope for positive change, while identifying insecurity as the most urgent national problem.
“Everybody is just trying to stay sane. Economy is going down and finances are low. Fortunately, yes I am proud of Nigeria. We are naturally happy people and I pray for a good change one day. Most pressing issue we have right now is security,” she concluded.
Public speaker and English lecturer from Lagos State University, Dr Ganiu Bamgbose, views Nigeria as a country still in its “rising stage”. He notes that 60 years of nationhood is relatively short when compared with countries like the UK and the US.
“I view Nigeria as a country in its rising stage. 60 years seems a long time to many people but when you consider how long other countries like the UK and the US have existed, you would agree with me that Nigeria is a growing country which has all it takes to get it right and will get it right,” he affirmed.
Dr Ganiu Bamgbose further identifies misinformation as the biggest misconception about Nigeria.
“Everyone thinks they know the right thing to do so they are not patient enough to understand what the government is doing and try to understand the dynamics and challenges that characterise ruling a federal democratic state,” he said.
While expressing pride in Nigeria’s climate, natural resources, and human capital, he stresses that both government and citizens must adjust their attitudes if the country is to reach its potential.
“I sure am proud to be a Nigerian. It is a blessed country. Blessed with climate, blessed with resources, blessed human capital. Ours is a great country. The government just needs to do more to get us to the promised land. The citizens too must be prepared to adjust. We always want our country to be as good as those ones we envy their systems but many times our attitude doesn’t match our desire,” he concluded.
Reacting from Zaki Biam in Benue State, Davis Ebube Divine sees Nigeria as “a great nation blessed in so many ways”. She debunks the perception of Nigeria as the poorest country, attributing this image to selfish leaders who divert national wealth.
“Okay let me say people see Nigeria as the poorest country. But it’s the leaders that are making it look like Nigeria is a poor country, because they take everything that belongs to Nigeria for selfish reasons…. So, that makes Nigeria look like the poorest country,” she said.
She concluded: “I’m proud to be a Nigerian because Nigeria as I will always say is a blessed country, apart from the insecurity and bad governance, Nigeria is blessed with many natural resources which most countries wish they had. The most pressing issue facing the country today is insecurity and bad governance.”
Another respondent from Lagos, Christiana Quadri, views Nigeria as a developing nation that is “not recognised for what it is”.
“Nigeria is a land that is not recognised for what it is—a developing nation. Both the people and the government want to reap from it what they did not sow”.
She notes that the misconception people have about Nigeria is that democracy automatically suits the country.
“. . . the fact that democracy is the opium of the nation. Solution: Nigeria should be handled with what suits it best,” she stated.
This suggests that the country should adopt a system that truly fits its realities. She further says she is proud to be Nigerian because, as she said, she is “in the land of better opportunities”.
Speaking from Calabar in the South-South region, Okpin Marvellous Inungete believes that Nigeria is “a country of survivors”. She reacts against the stereotype that all Nigerians are corrupt, insisting that many honest and principled citizens still exist.
“I see Nigeria as a country of survivors. To live here, you must be adaptable and resilient. If you cannot adjust to changing situations, survival becomes difficult. The biggest misconception is that all Nigerians are corrupt. I believe this is untrue. There are still many honest and principled people in the country. We should interact more widely before concluding that corruption defines all Nigerians,” she said.
Marvellous further expressed pride in being Nigerian, saying “I am proud to be Nigerian because the country has trained me to be strong, resilient, and to strive for greater achievements despite challenges”.
“However, the most pressing issue facing Nigeria today is bad governance,” she added.
In his view, Emmanuel Ferdinand from Lagos considers “Nigeria as a great nation, full of potential, but unfortunately held back by ruthless politicians and systemic corruption”.
“Despite its challenges, it remains a country of immense talent, culture, and resilience,” he added.
Ferdinand disagrees with the idea that “Nigeria is expensive or that Nigerians are “inherently bad people”.
“The truth is that, despite widespread poverty, Nigeria is actually one of the cheapest countries to live in Africa. While there are some dishonest people, they are far outnumbered by hardworking, good Nigerians. This negative image, often propagated by other Africans and Westerners, has contributed to unnecessary visa restrictions and a skewed global perception of the country,” he said.
He concluded: “I am very proud to be Nigerian. Nigerians are among the smartest and most resourceful people in the world. Unfortunately, our potential is limited by lack of resources and systemic challenges. The most pressing issue is mediocrity, which manifests in poor governance, decaying infrastructure, and a docile citizenry that often accepts the status quo.”
From Iba, Lagos, Pastor David Oke-Iyanu of The Throne of God’s Majesty Assembly also views Nigeria as “a great nation”.
“Nigeria is a great nation blessed by God with abundant resources but the resources are grossly mismanaged,” he stated.
“The greatest misconception people have about Nigeria is that this nation can never come out of its present predicament and become great and prosperous again. But this is not true,” he said.
According to him, there is a high chance that Nigeria will be great again.
“There is great possibility that Nigeria can overcome its present challenge if we all believe in a new Nigeria and prayerfully labour to build a new Nigeria,” he said.
This ruptures the belief that Nigeria cannot recover, asserting that national renewal is possible through belief, prayer, and collective effort.
Proud of Nigeria’s divine favour and the success of Nigerians abroad, Pastor Oke-Iyanu identifies the country’s most urgent need as God-fearing and capable leadership.
“I am proud to be a Nigerian because Nigeria is uniquely blessed and highly favored by God. Many Nigerians in the diaspora are making waves and excelling in their various disciplines. The most pressing need facing Nigeria is God-fearing and capable leadership,” he concluded.
Reacting from Ibadan, Praise Akhaiyea presents a metaphorical view of Nigeria as she calls the country “a playground where money calls the shots,” and where broken rules are normalised and citizens simply adjust and move on.
She pointed out that what people misconstrue about Nigeria is that Nigeria is only home to fraudsters and entertainers, insisting that Nigerians excel in many other fields.
“Yes, we have fraudsters, and yes, we have active people in the industry. We do a lot of other things, and we do it well too. So, maybe a proper research or social enquiry would help,” she said.
Praise states that she is not proud to be Nigerian, citing insecurity and fear of travelling within the country as deeply troubling.
“The fact that we don’t feel safe traveling within the country is just wild. You mean I’m this scared of going to Taraba when I’m not even crossing any international borders?” she reacted.
Speaking from Lagos, Motunrayo Joel sees Nigeria as a country that “would have been one of the best” if it had good governance.
She emphasises intellectual capacity, natural resources, and creativity as some of the positive sides of the country, and explains that mismanagement has prevented progress.
“Nigeria is actually a good country. It would have been one of the best countries if we had a good government. This country births a lot of intellectuals. This country is made up of intelligent people. We have a lot of natural resources and a lot of creative people. If we had a good government, if we’re able to maximise what we have and not sell them out, if this country was taken a little bit seriously, it would have been a better place. Because of the kind of government we have, I really can’t applaud Nigeria,” she revealed.
While rejecting the idea that Nigeria is a bad country, she expresses frustration with leadership. And despite the fact that there are many issues facing the country, Motunrayo still affirms her pride in being Nigerian.
“I am proud to be a Nigerian actually. I’m proud to be African. We have so many pressing issues in this country. We have insecurity. We have unemployment, bad governance. They’re many, not even one. There are many issues in this country. It’s tiring. What makes me proud to be Nigerian? That, I can’t even say for sure, but then I like being a Nigerian. I like the fact that I’m a Nigerian,” she said.
Pelumi Kazeem, responding from Agbado Oja in Ogun State, considers Nigeria as a country with “extraordinary human potential”.
“Nigeria is a country with extraordinary human potential, but I would say it is deeply held back by poor leadership and systemic corruption,” she stated.
Pelumi added that Nigerians often succeed despite the system rather than because of it.
“Nigerians are creative and hardworking, yet they are often forced to succeed in spite of the system rather than because of it. Corruption and bad governance has taken over Nigeria,” she said.
She expressed mixed feelings of pride and frustration, acknowledging Nigeria’s cultural strength and adaptability, as well as identifying bad governance, economic hardship, and insecurity as major challenges.
“I’m proud to be a Nigerian because of the cultural strength, the food, music, fashion and even language and I would say Nigerians adapt easily to new issues and they hustle . . . the bad governance is just the big deal, corruption, the economic hardship and even insecurity… this is even one of the trending problems Nigerians are facing now.”
Salamat Ibrahim, reacting from the University of Ilorin, describes Nigeria as a “deeply diverse country filled with capable and talented people”.
“When I think of Nigeria, I think of talent, uniqueness, and people who come together to achieve great things. Nigeria is more than just a name; it is a heart full of able and capable people thriving at both small and large scales,” she said.
In the following, she responded to the misconception that Nigerians are fraudulent or lazy.
“Nigerians are not lazy. Nigerians are making waves both within the country and globally. You can see children as young as 7, 10, or 12 creating amazing things, handling technical skills, fixing cars, solving problems. This speaks to ingenuity and hard work. While fraud should never define a nation’s integrity, it should not erase the reality that Nigerians are uniquely resourceful and talented.”
Her statement below expresses her pride in being Nigerian, stating that Nigerians are change-makers, even though there exist bad governance.
“I am proud to be Nigerian. Being Nigerian makes me feel unstoppable. Nigerians do not do basic things, we do big things. We are change-makers, and that is what makes me proud.
The most pressing issue facing Nigeria today is bad governance, which affects everything, including the weakness of our currency. Beyond government, we must educate people at the grassroots to stand for themselves, think critically, clean their minds, and stop being misled by empty political promises. Until this changes, we will continue to recycle poor leadership”.
Besides, writer and sociopolitical analyst Okey Nwofor, in a Facebook post, presented a political analysis of how Nigerians perceive their country’s leadership. He explains that Nigerians view politics through ethnic, religious, political, economic, and patriotic lenses, often misunderstanding democratic governance. According to him, effective leadership requires strong parliamentary support.
“Some Nigerian aspirants to the Presidency of the country is to be elected to the office while ignoring the Legislature as the foundation of democratic governance. For example, the majority of the members of the Parliament of Nigeria belong to the APC of a political party in the country. How can a Peter Obi or Atiku or any other aspirant aim to preside over the political affairs of the country effectively without a parliamentary support?”
In the following, he warns that democracy without a functioning legislature amounts to dictatorship:
“A democracy without the input or existence of a Parliament is ipso facto, a DICTATORSHIP.”
Nwofor concludes that meaningful political power in Nigeria currently rests with dominant parties such as the APC and PDP.
All the foregoing perceptions about Nigeria by Nigerians reveal a country that is still struggling to reconcile its great potential with its harsh realities. Obviously, Nigerians see their country as blessed but battered. In spite of corruption, insecurity, unemployment, and bad governance which anchor the frustrations and disappointments in the country, belief in Nigeria’s people, culture, and future persists. Although Nigeria, now internationally described as a “disgraced country”, continues to attract bitter criticism, its present condition is not impossible to overcome.
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