The Nigerian State Has Failed Its People -By Muhammad Umar Shehu

Let’s stop sugarcoating it. Nigeria’s leaders have failed the very people they swore to serve. The signs are everywhere. Millions go to bed hungry, communities are under constant threat from bandits and terrorists, and families bury loved ones over avoidable tragedies. From the North to the South, the cry is the same: “Where is the government?”

For decades, we’ve watched politicians campaign with promises and disappear after elections. We’ve listened to speeches full of hope, only to wake up to worsening hardship. Whether it’s in education, healthcare, security, or the economy, Nigerians are largely left to fend for themselves in a country that seems to work only for the elite.

Electricity is unstable. Public schools are underfunded. Hospitals lack basic equipment. Roads are death traps. Jobs are scarce. The police often protect the rich while the poor face brutality. The gap between government and the governed has become dangerously wide.

But the failure didn’t start yesterday. It is the result of years of corruption, mismanagement, and lack of vision. Successive governments, both military and civilian, have chipped away at the country’s foundations while enriching themselves. The civil service, once respected, is now known more for inefficiency and bribery than service delivery.

What’s worse is that people have grown tired. Tired of voting without results. Tired of protesting with no response. Tired of hoping for leaders who never come. This fatigue is dangerous because when people lose faith in the system, they seek alternatives. And that is where chaos begins.

Still, all hope is not lost. The first step is honesty. We need to admit that things are not okay. Then, we must demand better. Louder. Consistently. In unity. Good governance doesn’t happen by chance. It happens when citizens hold leaders accountable, not just during elections, but every day after.

Nigeria is not poor. Nigerians are not lazy. The failure lies in leadership that treats public service like a private business. Until that changes, the suffering will continue. But if the people find their voice and use it, then maybe we can turn this broken system into something that works for all.

Muhammad Umar Shehu
Write from Gombe and can be reached via
Umarmuhammadshehu2@gmail.com