My recent travel to Nigeria in February this year (2013) confirmed what I have always thought and believed, that local government is the missing link that will accelerate economic development in Nigeria. By local government, I mean states and Local Government Areas (LGA) and other smaller municipalities. What stands out as soon as one lands at Murtala Muhammed International Airport from overseas and ventures into the cities is a palpable recognition of direct correlation between performance of state and local officials and level of economic development in those states and localities.
Nigeria should pay greater emphasis on local governance. Abuja, the nations capital and seat of federal government is too far away from majority of Nigerians to effect meaningful and lasting change in people’s life. Federal government responsibilities should be limited to the defense of the country against external and internal threats. They should built and maintain federal roads and bridges and shift remaining resources to state and local governments where infrastructure development will be better implemented. The only problem is that some of the governors and local government officials are corrupt and may siphon away the resources from federal allocations to states and local governments. In some states, local officials means well but sometimes embark on white elephant projects which does little for their population.
As soon as I stepped out of Murtala Muhammed International Airport into main Lagos, I became disappointed once again. Infrastructure development in Lagos state especially roads is pathetic considering the fact that Lagos was once the federal capital. Development in the state is uneven, few places have good roads but the vast majority of the roads and bridges are in terrible shape. Most roads are filled with potholes with street lights that no longer works. Lagos state is arguably the richest state in Nigeria that generates more internal revenue than any other state and receives substantial share of yearly federal allocation from oil revenue. Yes, Eko Atlantic city built by Lagos state government is an engineering marvel but should such edifice be accorded such priority. Money that would have been better used to rebuild crumbling roads was spent on this project in the name of land reclamation and attraction of foreign investment. Lagos state government should do a better job in infrastructure development.
I then flew from Lagos to Enugu airport which should not even be called an airport. It is a caricature of an airport. Enugu airport is worse today than it was 20 years ago. I drove from Enugu airport to Ebonyi state. The federal road linking Enugu to Ebonyi was terrible but road reconstruction stretching from Enugu through Abakaliki to Cross River state was in full swing. So it appears that the federal government is honoring it’s obligation. Ebonyi state have made strides in infrastructure development. The state capital was alive and busting with energy. Most of the roads in the capital are paved. More need to be done in towns outside the capital but the state is relatively new and need more time to bring other parts of the state in line with the capital city. The good news is that the development was more than I expected considering the fact that Abakaliki, the state capital and surrounding cities was one of the least developed parts of old Eastern region. Successive state and local officials there have really done a great job.
I then traveled from Abakaliki back to Enugu state. Enugu state government is doing fairly well but they could do better in infrastructure development considering the fact that Enugu state has been the seat of power of old eastern region, former East Central state and old Anambra state. All parts of Enugu state should be far more developed than it is today.
I left Enugu and headed to Anambra state. The federal road from Enugu to Anambra was great. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of development in Anambra state especially the road network. Governor Peter Obi have received so many knocks on foreign online media especially Sahara Reporters on his job performance since he became governor. Before my trip, I thought governor Peter Obi abandoned massive road network built by former governor, Dr. Ngige. Every single major road in Anambra state is now paved. All major towns are linked with great road network comparable to what you see in some U.S cities. Governor Peter Obi should be commended for picking up and building out from where former governor Ngige left off. People who are knocking governor Peter Obi need to direct their fire somewhere else. He has and continues to do a great job going by what I saw on the ground. I have not met the man but I am impressed by his achievements. I hope Anambra state voters will continue to pick good leaders from any party who will provide good leadership. The nightmare and ghost of former governor of Anambra state, Mbadunuju’s disastrous rule is long gone but not forgotten.
Criteria for picking governors and other local government officials must be based on the would-be leader’s vision and integrity. The fate of each state is directly related to the performance of the governor and local officials. Early years of People Democratic Party (PDP) government in Anambra was a disaster. A lot of good things is happening in Edo state under governor Oshiomole compared to the terrible rule of his PDP predecessor. Infrastructure development is also taking place in Ondo state under governor Mimiko who rescued his state from misrule. The jury is still out for all Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors who won governorship offices in all but one western states in the last election. It is just too early to measure their performance and conclusively determine if they are living up to expectation. Luckily, voters are alert and appears to know the governors who are performing and those who are wasting their time and resources. They reward the performing governors with second term when they seek re-election. Days of election rigging is fast coming to an end in Nigeria, thanks to professor Jega, a man of honor and integrity who is now at the helm of the National Electoral Commission, the body who conducts national and local elections.
Nigerian president and legislatures should establish fourth tier of government called Township Council similar to cities here in United States. A lot of towns in Nigeria already have the administrative structure in place but the structures lacks legal standing or enabling laws to codify their activities. Towns should have the option to incorporate and run their affairs if they chose. Fourth tier of government will basically devolve power to the grass root and give various towns across the country a stake and sense of belonging. Towns will better protect and run their affairs which will lead to rapid development at the state and local level.
An eye opener for me in Nigeria as to the possibilities of what local governments can accomplish was the brief tenure and leadership of former Anambra state governor, Chris Ngige who is now a Nigerian senator. He transformed Anambra state within 3 years. He build elaborate road networks across the state and brought state employee’s salary and pension arrears up-to-date. He did a lot in 3 years and Ananmbra state citizens remains grateful to him for his accomplishments. He showed that any serious governor or local official can get a lot done with their resources no matter how meager . I was not always a fan of local governance but my view evolved overtime. When I moved to United States, I was skeptical about city and county governance. I thought that the concept of city and county government is unnecessary duplication of functions and waste of public resources with overlapping bureaucracy. I felt that state government can handle city and county responsibilities. My view changed as I learn and see how cities, counties and states compliment each other. The overall benefit outweighs the cost.