By DANIEL B. DAJEL
Nigeria today stands at a difficult crossroads. Across communities, families are struggling to put food on the table, and young people wake up each day unsure of what the future holds. Prices of essential goods rise by the week, businesses are shutting down and the basic conditions needed for economic stability and growth seem painfully absent.
It is becoming increasingly clear that our economic challenges are not just the result of global forces, but also the consequence of leadership choices that have failed to create the right environment for citizens to thrive. In such a time, responsible leadership is not just desirable; it is urgent and necessary.
A nation in pain, a people losing hope
I have been following news reports on the economy of Nigeria and how it is affecting our people. The publication of BusinessDay Nigeria titled, ‘Nigeria’s Economy in 2025: A Nation in Distress,’ caught my interest. It highlights the rising cost of living, inflation and the impact of currency devaluation on households and businesses. It discusses President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and the gap between policy promises and implementation, and emphasises the need for disciplined fiscal management and structural reforms.
In other words, the article is referring to the fact that there is hardly any average Nigerian citizen who is not a witness to the pain, the hunger and the hope that define our daily lives. In penning these opening sentences, I am not speaking from a place of comfort, but from the heart of a people who wake up each morning wondering how they will survive the day.
The article speaks of Nigeria being a nation blessed beyond measure. A country rich in culture, in talent, in natural resources, just to mention a few. Yet, we are also a nation burdened by hardship. The price of food has soared beyond the reach of ordinary families. The Naira has lost its strength and with it, I dare say, so too has the strength of our people to endure.
Mothers skip meals so their children can eat. Fathers walk miles in search of work that may never come. Young people, full of dreams and potential, are trapped in a cycle of unemployment and despair. This is not the Nigeria we were promised. This is not the Nigeria we deserve.
Failed leadership
Why are we here? Why, with all our wealth, are we still poor?
The answer is not a mystery. It is not fate. It is not a curse. It is leadership; poor, visionless and disconnected leadership. For too long, we have been governed by those who see power as privilege, not responsibility; by those who speak of change but deliver only excuses; by those who forget that leadership is not about titles, but about service.
Our economy is not broken because we lack resources. It is broken because we lack the will to build. We lack the courage to confront corruption. We lack the discipline to plan for the future. And we lack leaders who put the people before politics.
But I believe in Nigeria. I believe in the resilience of our market women, our farmers, our teachers, our youth. I believe in the strength of our communities, in the power of our voices and in the fire that still burns in our hearts.
Therefore, those who are in positions of authority have to live up to their responsibilities. This is non-negotiable. Nigerians are not a people to be taken for a ride again and again.
Power Iis temporary, legacy is permanent
Political appointees should sit up and do what is expected of them so as to bring the desired and necessary progress our nation has been longing for.
Public appointment is not a personal achievement to boast about. Neither is it a licence for self-enrichment or oppression. It is a sacred trust bestowed upon individuals to serve, uplift,and empower the very people whose support and mandate brought them into office. As we move closer to another election cycle, this truth becomes even more urgent and undeniable: leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege.
Unfortunately, what we see today in many quarters is a distortion of this calling. Instead of empowering their communities, some appointees have turned their positions into avenues for personal wealth accumulation. Instead of lifting people, they tear them down. Instead of building structures of support, they build walls of division. This behaviour does not only weaken the trust citizens have in governance. It also undermines the collective progress and unity needed for sustainable development.
Leadership is measured not by the number of cars parked in one’s compound, nor by the amount of money one can hide, but by the number of lives touched, opportunities created and dreams revived. A true leader ensures that their appointment becomes a stepping stone for many others, not a stumbling block.
As elections approach, appointees must remember that power is temporary. But legacy is permanent. The people will not remember how much money you made for yourself; they will remember how much hope you gave them. They will remember whether you opened doors or shut them. They will remember whether your leadership healed or harmed.
This is a call to every appointee: use your position to empower your people. Build them. Support them. Prepare them for greater opportunities. Let your leadership be a blessing, not a burden.
History only honours those who serve with integrity. The coming elections will test our leaders, but they will also reveal those who truly understand the purpose of their appointment—to empower their people, not degrade them.
Today, the nation waits not for leaders who flaunt wealth, but for leaders who create pathways out of hardship. Nigerians are resilient, hardworking and hopeful. But they cannot thrive under conditions that stifle progress. The responsibility now lies with those in positions of authority to rewrite the story: to build an economy that works, to restore trust and to ensure that governance becomes a tool for empowerment rather than oppression.
As we look toward the next election, may our leaders choose service over self, integrity over indulgence and purpose over power. Only then can the country move from survival to true prosperity.
Dajel, PhD, is a Jos-based research consultant and data scientist with extensive experience in socio-economic development projects, policy evaluation and evidence-based decision-making across Nigeria and Africa