In a nation as complex and diverse as Nigeria, the discourse on politics, economy, and security often drowns out a more fundamental concern: the preservation of human decency. Amid the cacophony of corruption scandals, electoral disputes, ethnic tensions, and economic decline, the quiet erosion of basic moral values has become one of the greatest threats to the country’s future.
Human decency—expressed in fairness, respect, integrity, and empathy—is not a mere moral ideal. It is the very glue that holds societies together. When it collapses, institutions lose legitimacy, leaders rule without accountability, and ordinary citizens treat one another with callous disregard. Nigeria’s current struggles, from rising violence to institutional dysfunction, reflect a deficit of this essential social foundation.
Consider the daily realities: public officials looting funds earmarked for health or education while children suffer in underfunded schools; politicians exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to secure power; police forces that are meant to protect, turning instead into predators of the very citizens they serve. These are not merely policy failures—they are profound breaches of human decency.
The Nigerian people, resilient and resourceful, are not unaware of this decay. Movements like #EndSARS and calls for electoral accountability reveal a yearning for a society where dignity is honoured and justice is not for sale. Yet, for such aspirations to materialize, there must be a collective insistence that decency is non-negotiable. Citizens must demand it from leaders, leaders must model it for citizens, and institutions must enshrine it in practice.
Human decency is not a Western import or an elite luxury; it is a universal necessity. Without it, development projects collapse under the weight of corruption, social cohesion gives way to tribal suspicion, and democracy becomes an empty shell. But with it, Nigeria can rediscover its strength—not only as Africa’s largest economy but as a moral force capable of inspiring its people and continent.
The imperative is clear: Nigeria must stand firm on human decency. It is not a matter of convenience but of survival. For only when integrity, empathy, and fairness are restored to the center of national life will the promise of Nigeria’s greatness be more than a dream—it will be a lived reality.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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