66th Independence Anniversary: CAPPA Tasks Nigeria on Security, Welfare & Accountable Governance
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Federal Government and state governments to use Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary to renew their commitment to security, economic opportunity, accountable governance and improved living standards for citizens.
In a statement signed by its Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA said the anniversary should provide an opportunity for the country to reflect honestly on the gap between the promises of independence and the realities confronting millions of Nigerians.
The organisation acknowledged Nigeria’s resilience and democratic progress, including the return to civilian rule in 1999 and more than two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance.
It, however, said the country’s democratic journey should be measured by whether citizens can live safely, participate meaningfully in governance, afford basic necessities and trust public institutions to work in their interest.
CAPPA expressed concern over the economic difficulties facing households, citing poverty, food insecurity and declining purchasing power as major challenges.
It said the International Monetary Fund reported in June that 63 per cent of Nigerians were living below the national poverty line, while an estimated 27 million Nigerians faced food insecurity in late 2025.
The group urged the Federal Government to make citizens’ welfare a central measure of its economic policies, with emphasis on affordable food, a living wage, decent jobs, accessible healthcare, quality education, reliable electricity, public water supply and social protection.
“Beyond statistics and policy announcements, Nigerians need to feel the difference in their pockets, homes, communities, workplaces and markets,” CAPPA said.
It argued that economic reforms should not be judged solely by increased government revenues, investment flows or improved macroeconomic indicators, but by their impact on household incomes, poverty and opportunities.
On the 2027 general elections, CAPPA called on the Federal Government, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure
