Stakeholders in Ogun have acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in economic reforms, infrastructure, agriculture and education, while identifying areas requiring sustained attention for national development.
They made the observations in a separate interview in Abeokuta on Thursday, while assessing Nigeria’s 66-year journey as an independent nation.
The Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, said Nigeria had performed above average in its development journey but still had significant ground to cover.
Elemide said although the country has recorded positive and negative developments since independence in 1960, it remained on the right track towards achieving its national aspirations.
“On my own, I would say we are above average, though we have not gotten there. We still have a long way to go, but we are on the right track.
“The quality of leadership, the quality of followership and the inability to accept responsibility are part of what is happening in Nigeria.
“We always want to pass the buck and shift blame. The masses will say it is the leadership, while the leaders will blame the masses,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to take responsibility for their respective roles in nation-building, expressing optimism about the country’s future.
Also speaking, Mr Abiodun Ogunjimi, Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ogun Chapter, said the Federal Government had increased attention to agricultural development through mechanisation, fertiliser distribution, improved seeds, irrigation and financing.
“Government’s interventions in agriculture are commendable, but they must be sustained to reduce production costs and ensure that farmers receive better returns for their efforts,” Ogunjimi said.
He said the revival and recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture would further improve access to credit and strengthen agricultural production.
Ogunjimi, however, urged the government to sustain its interventions to ensure lower production costs, better farm-gate prices, affordable food and improved living conditions for Nigerians.
“We need policies that will make farming profitable, attract more young people and support agro-processing in rural communities,” he said.
He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to collaborating with governments at all levels to promote food security, agro-processing, rural employment and youth participation in agriculture.
Similarly, Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde, Secretary-General, Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC), acknowledged progress in the foreign exchange market despite the economic challenges associated with ongoing reforms.
“Although the reforms have brought hardship, there are signs of improvement in the foreign exchange market. What is important now is to ensure that the benefits reach ordinary Nigerians,” Akintunde said.
Akintunde also commended reforms in vocational and technological education, saying they would promote youth self-reliance and contribute to national development.
He called for sustained efforts to address insecurity, noting that proposed state policing could provide additional support in tackling security challenges.
“State policing, if properly structured and supervised, can complement the existing security architecture and improve response to local security challenges,” he said.
He also urged greater investment in agricultural production, particularly poultry and livestock farming, to improve food availability and address rising food prices.
Akintunde identified the energy sector as another critical area requiring attention to support economic growth.
In his contribution, Mr Temitope Adekoya, Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abeokuta Branch, said Nigeria had recorded significant progress in economic reforms, infrastructure, education and healthcare in the past three years.
“Some of the reforms have been difficult, but they are necessary to reposition the economy and improve public finances,” Adekoya said.
Adekoya said the administration of President Bola Tinubu had introduced policies aimed at strengthening the economy, improving fiscal management and expanding infrastructure development.
He identified the removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms as major measures towards improving macroeconomic stability.
He also highlighted investments in major road projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry corridor and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road.
According to him, the projects would improve transportation, facilitate trade and strengthen access to markets.
On education, Adekoya identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an important intervention towards expanding access to tertiary education financing.
“The NELFUND initiative has the potential to ensure that students from less privileged backgrounds are not denied higher education because of financial constraints,” he said.
He also highlighted government investments in healthcare infrastructure and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative as efforts to improve service delivery and promote alternative transportation energy.
Adekoya further identified tax and judicial reforms as important measures towards strengthening public administration and the justice system.
He called for sustained investment in agriculture, electricity, security, healthcare and education, as well as transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law.
“The ultimate measure of national development is the improvement of living conditions. Nigerians want affordable food, employment opportunities, reliable electricity, quality education and accessible healthcare,” he said.
