Olusegun Aganga: Poor Leadership Hurting Nigeria’s Progress

Mary Nnah

Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has attributed the country’s woes to poor leadership and a flawed governance structure.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at the launch of Dr. Olu Fasan’s book, “In The National Interest: The Road to Nigeria’s Political, Economic and Social Transformation,” yesterday in Lagos, Aganga lamented that Nigeria’s potential remains untapped due to incompetent leadership and a system that prioritizes personal gain over national interest.

Aganga, argued that Nigeria’s problem was not a shortage of competent leaders, but rather the lack of quality political leaders.

“We have outstanding leaders in abundance at home and in the diaspora, some leading international organisations, others holding senior leadership positions in the private sector or the public sphere in foreign countries,” he noted.

“However, the political system fails to attract and retain top talent, with many competent individuals being schemed out of positions that could drive national development,” he added.

The former minister emphasised the importance of values-based leadership, stating that Nigeria’s current value deficit was a major obstacle to its development.

He called for a redefinition of public service, stressing that it should be seen as a calling to serve humanity, rather than a means of personal enrichment. Aganga also highlighted the need for leaders who prioritise the development of human capital, citing the country’s large and growing population as a potential demographic advantage if harnessed correctly.

 Aganga advocated for a radical overhaul of Nigeria’s governance structure, suggesting that the current presidential system was too expensive and ineffective.

Furthermore, he proposed a parliamentary system or a hybrid model that incorporates the strengths of both systems.

“Nigeria must restructure to achieve its full potential,” he declared, emphasising that decentralisation and structural reform were essential for the country’s future.

Aganga’s words resonated with the audience, highlighting the urgent need for Nigeria to unlock its potential and become a great and prosperous nation.

The book launch was a momentous occasion as it brought together prominent Nigerians and stakeholders to discuss the country’s challenges and potential solutions.

The reviewer and Publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun, described the book as a comprehensive and insightful analysis of Nigeria’s challenges and potential solutions.

In the 599-page book, Fasan provided a detailed examination of the country’s history, politics, economy, and social issues, offering profound ideas on the way forward.

 Aigbogun praised the book for its clarity, depth, and insight. According to him, the book was a call to action, urging Nigerians to rise and act in the national interest to create a new Nigeria that is united, stable, and prosperous.

 Aigbogun further noted that the book was designed to be an easy read for a general audience, making it accessible to students, academicians, policymakers, and researchers. He recommends the book, stating that it adds to the body of knowledge about Nigeria and provides a roadmap for national renewal and transformation.

The author revealed that his passion for Nigeria drove him to write the book.

Fasan expressed concern about the country’s current state, lamenting that despite Nigeria’s vast potential, the country has failed to live up to expectations.

 “Nigeria lacks the real definition of nationhood, and another challenge is that Nigeria lacks the real definition of statehood,” Fasan stated, highlighting the country’s existential crisis.

He argued that the Nigeria of the 1960s was better than the Nigeria of today, despite the civil war, emphasising the need for urgent reforms and transformation.

 Fasan further argued that Nigeria’s problems stemmed from institutional weaknesses rather than resource constraints. He advocated for restructuring Nigeria’s political and economic systems, promoting industrialisation and private sector development, and tackling corruption and insecurity.