Obasanjo: How Nigeria Became a Graveyard for Policies
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s current state, stating that the country has not achieved the level of development it should have.
Speaking at the 8th annual Brigadier General Michael Agu (retired) distinguished lecture and awards event, held at the Obasanjo Space Centre in Lugbe, Abuja, he criticized the nation’s tendency to have numerous policies that often go unimplemented.
Obasanjo emphasized that having policies or making statements is not enough. He highlighted that real progress requires taking decisive action, rather than moving forward only to take steps backward, which he believes is currently happening in all sectors of Nigerian society. He urged the need to focus on achievable goals rather than attempting to handle everything at once, which often leads to failure.
He also reflected on his administration’s efforts in space research, mentioning that they had sent over 100 Nigerian engineers to China for specialized training when the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) was formed. His administration’s goal was to have Nigeria launch its first satellite with China’s assistance, followed by a collaborative satellite, and eventually, one fully developed by Nigeria.
In his remarks, the current Director General of NASRDA, Dr. Mathew Adepoju, revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of four more satellites for the country.
Additionally, Obasanjo shared a personal revelation about his hearing loss, stating that he is about 25% deaf, a condition he was unaware of until a medical examination abroad. He explained that this experience led him to support thousands of hearing-impaired individuals across Nigeria by providing hearing aids. During a visit to Bauchi, he donated hearing aids to 2,000 people and announced plans to distribute aids to over 10,000 people in the Northeast, starting in Bauchi.
