“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
—John F. Kennedy (1961)
Whenever the national anthem rises at a football match, a military parade, or a school assembly, Nigerians momentarily experience a stirring sense of unity. Yet, once the music fades, daily realities quickly puncture that fleeting emotional bond. It is in this disconnect that a critical but underexamined issue emerges: Nigeria suffers not only from infrastructural and governance deficits but also from a profound deficit in patriotism.
While public debates often focus on insecurity, corruption, unemployment, and declining public trust, the absence of a robust civic spirit may be the quiet saboteur undermining Nigeria’s development efforts. This article interrogates a simple but consequential question:
Can Nigeria’s developmental aspirations succeed without reviving patriotism as a core societal value?
Patriotism Then and Now: A Nation’s Changing Mood
Older generations speak nostalgically about a time when loyalty to Nigeria carried emotional weight—when “Made in Nigeria” was worn with pride, when NYSC was viewed as a rite of passage, and when national victories were personal triumphs. During the 1980s and early 1990s, schools rang with chants of “Go Nigeria!” and national projects inspired optimism.
Today, the mood is radically different.
Patriotism spikes only during football tournaments, global pageants, or moments of collective tragedy. Outside these exceptional events, a pervasive disillusionment lingers. The “japa” wave, driven by economic hardship and systemic inefficiencies, signals a generational reorientation: survival now frequently outweighs national loyalty.
This shift is not trivial. Development cannot flourish in a society where citizens see themselves merely as inhabitants—not stakeholders—in the nation’s future.
Patriotism: More Than Symbolism
Patriotism is often misunderstood as flag-waving, anthem-singing, or ceremonial pageantry. These are expressions, not foundations. In governance literature, patriotism is understood as a civic ethic, a psychological, moral, and cultural commitment that aligns individual behavior with national progress.
This deeper patriotism:
(i) motivates citizens to pay taxes responsibly,
(ii) strengthens social cohesion,
(iii) enhances compliance with laws and regulations,
(iv) encourages youth to serve rather than flee,
(v) inspires public service, innovation, and sacrifice, and
(vi) holds leaders accountable through constructive participation.
In many developed societies, such as Canada, Japan, and South Korea, this civic patriotism sustains national resilience. The shared belief that the nation belongs to all fosters a collective commitment to long-term development.
By contrast, in Nigeria, patriotism is frequently dismissed as idealism or naïve loyalty in a system perceived as unequal and unrewarding. The result is a fragmented civic culture that struggles to support national goals.
Patriotism and Development: A Mutually Reinforcing Relationship
Development is not simply a function of budgets, blueprints, and policies. It requires a cooperative equilibrium between the state and its citizens. Where patriotism is strong, national reforms take root; where it is weak, even well-designed policies collapse under the weight of apathy, cynicism, or outright sabotage.
Consider examples:
(i) Tax systems fail when citizens distrust government spending.
(ii) Anti-corruption efforts weaken when loyalty shifts from the nation to an ethnic group or personal network.
(ii) Public institutions decay when civic responsibility is overshadowed by survivalist behavior.
A development agenda without patriotic citizens is like a body without a spine, structurally present but functionally incapacitated.
How Daily Realities Erode Civic Commitment
Patriotism rarely dies in dramatic fashion; it fades through accumulated disappointments:
1. Persistent power failures: A small business owner in Jalingo or Birnin Kebbi loses revenue daily to fuel generators. The power holding company (formerly NEPA) seems to have developed a terrible reputation ingrained in the psyche of many Nigerians after years of erratic or epileptic power supply. Over time, frustration erodes their belief in the nation’s economic promise.
2. Insecurity on roads and highways: A trader traveling from Jos to Abuja prays for safety rather than prosperity. A fearful citizen is rarely an inspired citizen.
3. Corruption and unfair opportunities: When a first-class graduate watches job placements go to those with connections rather than merit, national loyalty weakens and self-preservation takes precedence.
4. Broken public institutions: Dilapidated schools, unreliable healthcare, and inefficient services shape perceptions of a country that is indifferent to its own citizens.
When a nation repeatedly fails to meet basic expectations, patriotism becomes emotionally exhausting.
Why Rebuilding Patriotism Matters for Development
Nations that have defied historical challenges often relied on renewed civic identity:
Rwanda
After the 1994 genocide, the state deliberately rebuilt a collective identity centred on Rwandanness, reducing ethnic divisions and enhancing national cohesion.
Developmental transformation was anchored on civic discipline, social trust, and the belief that every citizen had a stake in the nation’s survival.
South Korea
National pride in post-war reconstruction fuelled sacrifices that lifted the country from poverty to advanced industrial status.
These examples underline a fundamental truth: No country develops without a unifying civic spirit.
Nigeria requires the same anchor. A patriotic citizen is more likely to defend national institutions, participate in reforms, and contribute skills rather than migrate permanently.
Pathways to Revive Nigerian Patriotism
Reclaiming patriotism demands practical reforms, not sentimental speeches.
#1. Leadership by Example
Patriotism is contagious when leaders embody it.
When public officials use public services, cut excesses, and uphold fairness, trust is restored. A governor who enrolls his children in public schools communicates more commitment than any rhetoric.
#2. Transformative Civic Education
Citizenship education should go beyond reciting the Constitution. Schools should integrate community service, environmental stewardship, and experiential learning to instill civic responsibility.
#3. Celebrate Everyday Heroes
Highlighting unsung Nigerians like teachers in rural schools, health workers in conflict zones, and innovators solving local problems can reshape the narrative of what patriotic contributions look like.
#4. Ensure Fairness and Social Justice
Patriotism flourishes where citizens perceive justice. Transparent recruitment, equitable distribution of resources, and respect for human rights strengthen attachment to the nation.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s development agenda is replete with strategic plans, national frameworks, and reform proposals. Yet none will yield a transformative impact without a committed citizenry. Patriotism is not a sentimental luxury; it is a developmental necessity.
Reclaiming patriotism means building a Nigeria where citizens no longer ask, “What has this country done for me?” but confidently declare, “This is my country, and I will help it succeed.”
—By Dr. S. B. Adams
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