At 66, Nigeria Must Rise Above Its Challenges, Act Now — Rt. Hon. Teejay Yusuf
As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, the People’s Democratic Party candidate for Kogi West Senatorial District in the 2027 General Elections, Hon. Tajudeen Ayo Yusuf, has called on Nigerians to move beyond celebration and take collective action to address the country’s economic, security and developmental challenges.
Yusuf, in an Independence Day message titled “Nigeria at 66 — The Time to Rise Is Now,” said the country had made significant progress since independence but acknowledged that the current realities facing many Nigerians remained a source of concern.
According to him, Nigeria must be honest about the challenges confronting the nation, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, poor infrastructure and a declining sense of hope among citizens.
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“At 66, Nigeria is definitely not a baby anymore. We have come a long way as a nation, but we must also be honest with ourselves: the state of our nation today is far from where it ought to be,” he said.
Yusuf stressed that the challenges should not be allowed to define Nigeria’s future, urging citizens and leaders to confront them with courage, honesty and determination.
He called for deliberate efforts to strengthen the country’s institutions, create employment opportunities, improve security and infrastructure, and restore public confidence in the Nigerian project.
The former lawmaker also maintained that the responsibility for building a better Nigeria should not be left entirely to government, noting that citizens also have important roles to play in the country’s development.
“This is not a responsibility for government alone. Every Nigerian has a role to play. We must demand accountability from those entrusted with public responsibility, but we must also hold ourselves accountable for the kind of country we are helping to build,” Yusuf stated.
He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s potential, pointing to the country’s human and natural resources, talent and resilience as assets capable of driving national transformation if supported by collective will and purposeful leadership.
Yusuf urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country, but to focus on fixing existing challenges, preserving what works and building structures where they are lacking.
He said the 66th anniversary should provide an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the kind of country they intend to leave for future generations.
“We have endured enough. We must now build better. We have waited long enough. We must now act. The Nigeria we desire will not build itself. We must build it together,” he declared.
Yusuf congratulated Nigerians on the 66th Independence Anniversary and prayed for healing, peace, prosperity and renewed hope for the nation.
He also prayed that God would strengthen the Nigerian people, guide the country’s leaders and help restore peace and prosperity across the country.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper October 1st, 2026
