64 Years of Independence: Nigeria Still at Back Waters of Development - Dr. Segun Musa
By: Bisi Akingbade
The Chairman/Publisher, Global Transport Policy News Limited, Dr. Segun Musa has stated that the experience of Nigerians since inception of Independence is that of lack of good leadership and corruption.
Speaking during the 5th Annual Conference & Excellent Leadership Achievements Awards of Nigeria Economic Growth Forum yesterday in Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Musa highlighted challenges bedeviling state of the nation.
He lamented that "64 years on what is the state of the nation.. We all are witnesses of Nigeria experiences since inception of Independence. And there are fundamental questions as citizens of this nation as we begin to ask ourselves how far have we fed, what are we getting right and what are we getting wrong.
"Fundamentally it is leadership challenge and the impact of corruption in the nation has bedeviled the advancement and stiffled its progress. And That is why we keep concern among Nigeria citizens and one issue that has continue to re-occur is stagflation that has continue to pull down people.into the family ambit of the nation.
"Nigeria remains the poverty capital and that does not speak well of the nation that is so endowed and yet at the back waters of development.
"We know very that Nigeria is richly blessed when its comes to blue economy. Nigeria has 9 littoral states, with 853 kilometers of coast lines, and that , has already gives us a maritime nation advantage.
"We have about 12 major ports in Nigeria and if we are only to explore our Blue economy, it will surprise you that we would have very much advanced but so many things are left there because we don't have leaders that has capacity to make things happen. And that is why we are still where we are today, battling with poverty.
About over 70% of Nigerians, infact 70%of West Africans, When Its comes to poverty Nigeria takes the larger portion of it. And that does not speak well of us as a nation.
So, we realize that we have what it takes to become a one leading nation.
Dr. Segun Musa, who was represented by Engr. Onoroisa Mark Onuchi, said
"I lived the younger part of my life at Ajaokuta Steel company and the potential of flat sheets of car production would have position Nigeria as an industrialise nation.
"Talking about the youth power we have enough youth power to drive Nigeria economy. So have so many advantages that we are not taking ownership of. And that is heartbreaking.
"64 years on here we still at the back water of development.
Proffering solutions for way forward, Dr. Musa said it is about orientation, education and empowering our youth. "We need to educate our youth and empowering our youth.
Dr. Musa emphasized that the issue of insecurity in Nigeria is another critical issue because most people are leaving the farm because of insecurity challenge. "So we need to start looking at community policing. You know it is an important component in all these dynamics. Entrepreneurship, building infrastructure. We need to start looking inwards at the potentials that we have", he said
He said in Ajaokuta there are derelick infrastructures that are meant to strategically position the nation
He further said in maritime industry nothing has really changed. "We need to have a technocrat that understands the industry to take on the saddle and things will take a dramatic change.
Responding to the issue of CRFFN worker's salary which CRFFN has paid part of it, after much threat from Maritime Worker's' Union of Nigeria, MWUN, he said he believed that change is coming as the process has started they will further respond meaningful.
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