Former Minister Aganga Blames Poor Political Leadership for Nigeria’s Development Woes
Dr. Olusegun Aganga, former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, has sharply criticized Nigeria’s political leadership, warning that a shortage of quality politicians is holding back the country’s growth and development.
Speaking at the launch of a new book in Lagos, Aganga argued that Nigeria actually has “abundant, credible and intellectually robust” talent, but many of these capable individuals are shut out of politics by a system driven by money, patronage and self-interest.
“There is no shortage of competent leaders in Nigeria. What we lack … is competent political leadership,” he said, adding that this deficit exists across all levels of government, local, state and federal.
Aganga warned that even when technocrats or professionals are brought into political roles, they are often constrained by the same political machinery that prioritizes political gains over economic development.
He called for political reform to reduce the influence of money-politics, godfatherism, and self-serving motivations in party structures. Strengthening political institutions and parties, he argued, is critical to attracting talent that can serve the national interest rather than personal ambitions.
Moreover, Aganga stressed that leadership must be underpinned by strong moral values. According to him, true public servants should demonstrate integrity, compassion, empathy and justice, beyond just competence and vision.
He also expressed concern about Nigeria’s demographic challenge. With an average age of 18.6 years and rising poverty, unemployment, and insecurity, Aganga said the country needs leaders who will prioritize human capital development, education, skills, health, to turn its population into a productive asset.
In his remarks, Aganga urged political stakeholders to “tackle how we recruit people into leadership,” suggesting that without fundamental reforms in how political parties operate, the country’s development potential will continue to be undermined.