Is NIGERIA Losing Its IDENTITY? A Reflection on a NATION in DECLINE
Growing up in Nigeria in the late 1980s, I experienced a version of the country that many today can hardly recognize. I was raised by God-fearing, loving people—my parents, uncles, aunties, neighbors, and childhood friends—who taught me right from wrong and helped shape my moral foundation.
Back then, Nigerian society was guided by values. Evil was feared, not normalized. Crime was the exception, not the identity. Nigerian women were not known for prostitution. Nigerian men were not known for fraud, kidnapping, or violence. The Nigerian name carried respect, both at home and abroad.
The Nigeria I Knew
I still remember the first time I traveled outside Nigeria. It was April 2000, and I visited Lomé, Togo. People welcomed me not as a foreigner, but simply as a child—curious, friendly, unable to speak French, but free from judgment. Later, we moved to Cotonou, Benin Republic, a country I still hold close to my heart. Back then, no one looked at me with hatred because I was Nigerian.
So, the question I ask now—one I believe many Nigerians ask quietly to themselves—is this:
What Happened to Us?
Today, across Africa, Nigerians are no longer respected. In nearly every country on the continent, some of our women are involved in sex work, and some of our men are entangled in crime. Our reputation has changed—and not for the better.
But what happened in these last two decades that led to this shift? What changed in Nigeria, and how has that change shaped how others see us?
The reality is painful: many young Nigerians are now associated with noise, trouble, and desperation. It’s as if the world forgot the millions of honest, hardworking Nigerians still quietly struggling to build better lives.
And yet, the Bible offers a chilling warning:
“Before the fall of any nation, its daughters descend into prostitution and its people embrace perversion.”
Is this what we’re seeing? Is Nigeria on the brink of collapse? Are we watching the slow death of a once-great nation?
Africa’s Betrayal of Nigeria
Nigeria has played a central role in Africa’s growth—through war efforts, humanitarian aid, peacekeeping missions, and economic partnerships. Our culture, music, and innovations have brought enlightenment and prosperity across the continent.
But now, when we need support, many African nations have turned their backs on us.
Nigerians are being imprisoned across Africa—not because they’ve committed crimes, but simply for being Nigerian. We’re denied jobs. Our businesses are looted. Our properties are seized. Our women are raped. Our children bullied. Our pleas for justice are ignored.
The irony is painful: Africans treat Nigerians worse than many in the Western world do.
Not All Nigerians Are Criminals
Yes, some Nigerians have done wrong. But the actions of a few should not justify the collective punishment of millions. We must stop allowing the behavior of 10 to determine the fate of 1,000.
Despite the odds, many Nigerians abroad are living with dignity, working tirelessly, and contributing to their host communities. Their stories deserve to be told too.
But instead, the loudest voices are often those committing the worst offenses—while the honest majority suffers silently.
Our Culture of Silence Is Killing Us
Perhaps the greatest betrayal comes from within.
Our government remains silent. Our celebrities are disengaged—busy chasing trends and reacting to viral videos while the soul of our country bleeds. There is no urgency, no outrage, no strategy.
We’ve embraced a culture of silence in the face of injustice. We suffer and smile. We normalize pain. But silence will not save us.
If we do nothing, we will be the ones to bury Nigeria—not our enemies, not our neighbors, but ourselves.
The Final Breath of a Giant
All over Africa, Nigerians are being erased from public life, from opportunity, from dignity. The narrative is being rewritten, and we’re not the ones holding the pen.
But it’s not too late. Our future depends on us recognizing this moment for what it is: a national emergency.
Let’s stop pretending. Let’s stop laughing away the pain. Let’s start holding ourselves, our leaders, and our institutions accountable.
Because if we don’t… Nigeria will not only die in silence. She will be forgotten in it.
About The Author
It’s really annoying that the giant of Africa in recent years has become an object of mockery in recent years.
As saddening as it gets, I’ll attribute the blame to poor leadership and bad governance. In this era, public office holders exist to loot public funds forcing thriving citizens to the ills of life.
Right now, as always, only God can help us.
It’s really annoying that the giant of Africa in recent years has become an object of mockery.
As saddening as it gets, I’ll attribute the blame to poor leadership and bad governance. In this era, public office holders exist to loot public funds forcing thriving citizens to the ills of life.
Right now, as always, only God can help us.
I believe it is in the hands of men like you and me to help wake Nigeria up. celebrities wont do it and our leaders enjoy the ignorance. We as regular people have the power to truly change anything. Lets wake each other up and lets start by dialogue, good dialogue will bring in action and action will change the policies that keep us tied down to the dirt. God gives us the power to do all things, but we can choose to act on issues or just sit still and pray. God has done his best for Nigeria, it is time for we the people to take steps that only we can take to inspire change.