The Paradox of Prosperity: A Nation’s Priorities in Question
“Nations like Nigeria know what to do to prosper, but just can’t do it.” – James A. Robinson, Nobel Laureate in Economics.
Former Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi writes about poor governance in Nigeria.
He posted on social media about his concern for the citizens of the Nigeria and the rate of hunger dealing with both the young and old.
Peter Obi writes;
In July, the United Nations issued a chilling warning that 34 million Nigerians are at risk of hunger. This isn’t an abstract statistic that we can afford to ignore. It is a stark reality that touches the lives of our parents, our children, our neighbors, and our friends—people who are going to bed hungry and waking up with no hope of a meal.
This crisis is not just a passing headline; it is a fundamental threat to the stability and well-being of our society.
While the country grapples with this dire humanitarian situation—with Nigeria officially ranked among the hungriest nations in the world—our government made an announcement that is difficult to reconcile with the suffering of its people.
The Federal Government of Nigeria approved a staggering ₦712 billion budget for the renovation of a single airport.
This decision is profoundly troubling. At a time when millions of Nigerians are facing the crushing burden of food insecurity, the government has chosen to allocate a monumental sum—not to provide food for its starving citizens, not to invest in poverty alleviation, but to renovate an airport.
This raises a single, urgent question that demands a national conversation: Where are our national priorities?
The irony is made sharper by recent history. Barely a decade ago, in 2013, Nigeria secured a $500 million loan from the China Exim Bank to upgrade five of our international airports. That was a substantial investment at the time. What has transpired since then that justifies an even larger sum today—over ₦700 billion—for just one airport, especially while our people are internally displaced and desperate for basic sustenance? This isn’t just a matter of poor spending; it suggests a fundamental disconnect between our leadership and the lived experiences of everyday Nigerians.
As a nation, our primary and most sacred obligation is to protect and provide for our people. This means ensuring they are fed, healthy, educated, and secure. While physical infrastructure like airports and roads are important for economic growth, they are not a substitute for human development. You cannot build a nation on an empty stomach.
Food security is not merely a social issue; it is a critical component of our national security and a foundational pillar of any viable economic strategy.
Development is, at its core, a matter of choices. It is about understanding that true national progress begins with investing in our people—in their health, education, and economic opportunities—not with grandiose infrastructure projects that fail to address the root causes of our challenges.
A government that builds magnificent infrastructure while its people starve is not building a nation; it is betraying one. The sight of gleaming new terminals will mean nothing to a populace that cannot afford to eat.
The time has come for a profound shift in our national mindset. We must stop prioritizing monuments over people and instead put Nigerians first in every policy, every budget, and every decision. We must dedicate our resources to the critical areas that truly define a prosperous society: the security of lives and property, accessible healthcare, quality education, and lifting our people out of poverty.
A New Nigeria is Possible.
