Guy, I am 35 years old. I have been hearing that line about Rome wasn't built in a day since I was 9. Rome wasn't built in a day but are you telling me that in 26 years Rome made no forward progress?
No. Listen to Fela's music, listen to his complaints and his humor. Now tell me, what has improved in Nigeria since 1992? Name one thing.
Oh, and as for Rome? They used force. And crucifixions. You might recall.
And they fell.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_the_Western_Roman_Empire
Everybody falls. At least they got to be a pinnacle of civilization for hundreds of years before falling. Nigeria didn't just fall, it lay down in the deepest pothole it could find and started digging with a 10 ton shovel.