- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo criticized Nigeria as a “graveyard” of unimplemented policies, hindering the country’s development and progress
- Obasanjo emphasized that good policies are insufficient; real progress requires action and implementation to effectively address national challenges
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described Nigeria as a “graveyard” of unimplemented policies, which he believes has hindered the country’s development.
Obasanjo made this statement during a lecture and awards ceremony organized by the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers (NISE) in Abuja, under the theme “Nigeria’s 21 Years in Space: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects.”
In his remarks, Obasanjo highlighted that while Nigeria has no shortage of good policies, many of them, particularly in areas such as space technology, have been abandoned and remain unexecuted.
He stated that leaving policies unimplemented has been counterproductive and caused the country to lag in several sectors.
“It is not enough to have good policies. Nigeria is not in short supply of good policies. Go to our archives, it is a burial ground of unexecuted policies which leave us where we should not be,” he said.
Obasanjo emphasized that real progress comes not from simply formulating policies, but from taking action to implement them.
He argued that nations that have made significant advancements did so by actively following through on their plans.
The former president also criticized successive governments for lacking progress in establishing a space program for the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
He lamented that despite his administration’s efforts to launch Nigeria’s first satellite, little progress has been made since then.
Obasanjo’s comments reflect a broader frustration with the country’s slow pace of development. He stressed that many of the nation’s challenges stem from the failure to execute well-intended policies.