Nigeria is 65, and like every 65-year-old, we’ve got plenty of stories. Some inspiring, some painful, and let’s be honest, some downright weird. Because if there’s anything Nigerians know how to do, it’s turn history into gist.
So instead of the usual serious Independence Day post, let’s look back at one “weird” or quirky moment per decade since 1960. Sit back, laugh small, and remember: this is all part of the Nigerian story.
1960s: The Independence Parade That Almost Didn’t Hold
Picture this: Nigeria was ready to finally hoist the Green-White-Green. The Queen’s representative had flown in, dignitaries were seated, and suddenly, rain. Heavy Lagos rain. But Nigerians, in true fashion, carried on. Umbrellas up, drums rolling, history made. Only in Nigeria would our first Independence parade come with a side of downpour.
1970s: “Cement Armada” Madness
In the mid-70s, Nigeria was flush with oil money and decided to build big. So we ordered cement. A lot of cement. So much that at one point, more than 400 ships loaded with cement clogged Lagos ports. For months, they couldn’t offload, causing one of the world’s strangest traffic jams; on water. Till today, “cement armada” remains one of the strangest jokes about Nigerian planning.
1980s: The “Essenco” Era
The economy took a dip, and suddenly, Nigerians were introduced to “essential commodities” (famously called essenco). Queues for milk, rice, soap, and even toilet paper stretched for hours. What made it weird? People turned it into business: hustling “connections” at the warehouse to get extra tins of milk and reselling them at double the price. Nigerians will always find a way.
1990s: The Nollywood Boom
The 90s gave us Nollywood, born in the weirdest way. One man in Onitsha decided to record a movie on VHS tapes, “Living in Bondage”, and sell them in traffic. Boom! A whole industry was born. Within years, every Nigerian home had a cupboard full of tapes with titles like Taboo 1, Taboo 2, and Taboo 3. Weird? Yes. Legendary? Absolutely.
2000s: GSM Craze and “Flashing”
When mobile phones landed in 2001, SIM cards cost as high as N50 thousand. But that didn’t stop Nigerians. People would “flash” (call and cut immediately) to signal everything from “I’ve arrived” to “Call me back, I don’t have credit.” There were even people flashing to confirm their phone numbers were still working. Weird, funny, and very Nigerian.
2010s: The Jollof Wars
Nigeria vs. Ghana. Not in football, but in food. Social media became the battlefield, with hashtags like #JollofWars trending every few months. CNN even joined in at one point. It was never really about rice; it was about pride. And let’s be honest, Nigerians know whose jollof is truly the best.
2020s: The Cashless Chaos
Fast-forward to 2023: the “naira redesign.” Nigerians queued endlessly at ATMs, paid outrageous fees to withdraw their own money, and even bought new notes in traffic. At one point, new note was like gold. A very weird chapter, but one we all survived; with memes as our therapy.
Final Thoughts
Nigeria at 65 is more than history books and political speeches. It’s a collection of the strange, the funny, and the unforgettable moments that make us who we are. From cement armadas to jollof battles, our story proves one thing: no matter how weird it gets, Nigerians always find a way to laugh, adapt, and move forward.
Happy Independence Day, Naija.
