Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s consistent failure to implement policies, which has resulted in the country’s inability to achieve sustained progress. Speaking on Saturday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Space Centre in Abuja, during the 8th Brig. Gen. (rtd) Michael Agu Annual Distinguished Lecture and Awards, Obasanjo declared that Nigeria has become a “burial ground of policies.”
The event, organized by the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers, focused on the theme “Nigeria’s 21 Years in Space (2003-2024): Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects.” The former president was the Special Guest of Honour and was honored with the title of Grand Commander of Nigerian Space Exploration.
In his speech, Obasanjo noted that Nigeria does not lack policies for growth and development but suffers from poor execution and implementation.
“It is not enough for leaders to have policies or make statements,” Obasanjo stated. “Unfortunately, Nigeria has become a burial ground of policies that are either unimplemented or unexecuted. Those who make progress achieve it not by wishing for it but by taking decisive actions. In Nigeria, we take two steps forward and three steps backward, and as long as we continue this way, progress will elude us.”
Obasanjo urged the country to focus on policies that are feasible, saying, “Let us carry the ones we can carry; we cannot be a jack of all trades and master of none.”
Reflecting on his administration’s space development initiatives, Obasanjo shared how the establishment of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) had once raised hopes for Nigeria’s space ambitions. Over 100 Nigerian engineers were sent to China for training as part of a plan to launch satellites, with the goal of eventually building and launching one entirely in Nigeria. However, he lamented that these plans had stalled, noting that NASRDA had struggled even to pay its workers at one point.
Obasanjo’s remarks highlight the broader challenges Nigeria faces in translating policy frameworks into tangible outcomes across sectors, from space exploration to national development. His call for action underscores the need for greater accountability and commitment to executing policies that can drive real progress for the nation.