Nigeria would have developed more if it was colonised longer – Kiddwaya

Reality TV personality Kiddwaya, also known as Tersewaya, has expressed a controversial opinion on Nigeria's development trajectory. In a recent social media post, the former Big Brother Naija contestant claimed that Nigeria would have been in a far better state if British colonial rule had lasted an additional 10 to 15 years. Kiddwaya argued that the premature granting of independence in 1960, following pressure from nationalist activists, has led to the nation's current underdevelopment.

He wrote on his X account, "Unpopular opinion. The British should have stayed in Nigeria for 10/15 more years. You go see better development."

The comment has sparked a range of reactions from Nigerians. While some agreed that Kiddwaya's claims were hard to dismiss, given the poor performance of Nigeria's post-independence leaders, others argued that if the British had remained longer, they might simply have exploited Nigeria's resources without contributing to the country's development. In 1960, Britain granted Nigeria its independence, and it formally became a republic in 1963, severing the last remaining ties with its former colonial master.