"Nigeria's Direction in Question, Says Ndoma-Egba"

Table of Contents

• Nigeria's Lost Way
• Podcast Reflection
• Economic Growth in 1960
• Public Service Career
• Institutional Weaknesses
• Chairmanship of NDDC

Former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has stated that Nigeria has “lost its way” and must revert to the values and discipline that once characterized it as a great nation.

During an appearance on The Exchange podcast, hosted by Femi Soneye, the former lawmaker and lawyer reflected on Nigeria’s journey from independence to its current state. He noted that the nation’s existing challenges arise from a “corrosive shift in political culture and the neglect of foundational plans.”

Reflecting on the optimism of 1960, Ndoma-Egba mentioned that Nigeria once boasted one of the fastest-growing economies globally. “The economy was among the fastest-growing in the world, and the issue was not a lack of funds, but rather how to allocate them,” he remarked.

At 69 years old, Ndoma-Egba began his public service career as a board member at the age of 24 and later became a state commissioner at 26. He compared governance practices from the past to those of today, noting that in the 1980s, most states operated with only seven to nine commissioners to minimize costs. While this approach helped reduce expenditures, he pointed out that it also compromised efficiency.

“I was managing what would now encompass over a dozen ministries,” he recalled, questioning whether the current focus on reducing governance costs truly achieves a balance between frugality and efficiency.

Ndoma-Egba emphasized that Nigeria’s institutional weaknesses are deeply rooted in cultural issues, particularly the populace’s “excessive deference to authority” and reluctance to hold leaders accountable. He contrasted the simplicity of Nigeria’s early leaders with the ostentation of contemporary politicians. “It’s the environment that defines… today,” he remarked, recalling that even his mother, who once served as a local government chairman, “walked to work without an official vehicle or residence.”

Reflecting on his tenure as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), he expressed disappointment that a master plan intended for the region’s development was “abandoned almost immediately” due to political interference. “The Commission was perceived by many as a share of the national cake,” he stated, revealing that there was a “62-step bureaucratic process for payments” that fostered inefficiency and corruption.

He added that his attempts to investigate allegations against contractors were violently disrupted by thugs, an incident that highlighted the severity of the problem.