The Public Interest and Legal Advocacy Centre (PILEX) has made a damning assessment of Nigeria’s affairs as the country marked its 65th independence anniversary on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
In its press statement, PILEX said Nigeria had failed to deliver the dividends of independence, remaining trapped in a vicious cycle of poor governance, insecurity, corruption, and economic inequality.
It said instead of celebration, Nigerians should reflect soberly on how a nation so richly blessed has been reduced to a land of squandered hopes.
“As a watchman of the people, we are outraged at how bad leadership and disregard for rule of law is rather creating more hopelessness amongst the people despite a promise of renewed hope,” PILEX said.
The promise of independence has been squandered by successive leaders who have failed to build strong institutions, uphold the rule of law, and prioritize the welfare of the people.
PILEX singled out insecurity as the gravest challenge, noting the increasing security risks faced by the citizens, citing the recent deaths of a journalist with Arise Television in Abuja, whose apartment was invaded by armed robbers, and the resurgence of insurgency, banditry and herdsmen attacks on farmers in Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa and other parts of the country.
On the economy, PILEX said Nigeria’s overdependence on oil had left it vulnerable to global shocks, while corruption and mismanagement continued to drain public funds.
It observed that inflation, currency instability, and rising debt burdens were eroding the quality of life of ordinary citizens.
On the environment, PILEX noted the polluted environment in the Niger Delta, where residents have been subjected to ailments caused by their exposure to polluted environment.
It noted that its investigation revealed that communities like Rumuekpe, Rukpokwu, Ibas, Ogale, Kono, Otiabagi, Oliobiri and other communities were living in danger as residents depended on polluted water and environment, and called on the Federal Government to extend the remediation project in Ogoniland to other parts of the Niger Delta with similar situations.
PILEX faulted the state of democracy in the country, arguing that elections were still marred by vote-buying, intimidation, and lack of transparency.
It called for a state of emergency in the electoral sector and urgent electoral reforms to ensure that votes cast at polling units are transmitted electronically to the electoral commission’s server to check rigging.
It further criticized Nigeria’s economic management, saying decades of dependence on oil and reckless borrowing had left the country vulnerable. It said the withdrawal of subsidy on oil had brought untold hardship on residents, and called for every Kobo received from withdrawal of fuel subsidy to be accounted for.
PILEX also raised alarm over the weakening of the judiciary, alleging that political interference and corruption had eroded public trust in the courts.
“The EFCC and our courts have been very slow to vacate the unholy perpetual injunction that has legitimized corruption and stealing of public funds in Rivers State. The same Judiciary that is very fast to give the FCT minister and his cronies judgement (Rivers State Local Government Elections, Restoration of Defected Lawmakers etc) is very slow to rule on matters against the FCT minister and the Executives in Nigeria.
“The cases on Emergency Rule at the Federal High Courts in Rivers State and similar case at the Supreme Court (by PDP Governors) was deliberately delayed to defeat the purpose of annulling the Emergency Rule and other incidental matters.”
The organisation condemned what it described as a systematic suppression of citizens’ rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
It recalled the #EndBadGovernance protests of 2024, during which security forces cracked down on demonstrators across major cities, leading to mass arrests, injuries, and deaths.
Citing Section 14 of the Constitution, which declares that the ideology of governance in Nigeria shall be based on the principles of Democracy and Social Justice, PILEX said, quite to the contrary what could be found on the ground was “Unconstitutional declaration of state of emergency and suspension of Governor and Legislature in Rivers State, illegal and rogue local government elections, weak judiciary and legislature influenced by the executive, rogue electoral system wherein the votes of the people don’t count, a partial Supreme Court and courts, especially, on political matters the executive has interest in.”
The centre urged urgent reforms, fixing of the refineries and the power sector: strengthening anti-corruption institutions, deepening federalism, guaranteeing judicial independence, and protecting civic freedoms.
