Professor Pat Utomi Expresses Dismay Over Nigeria's 'Complete Mess' Amidst Failed Leadership

Professor Pat Utomi, a prominent political economist and a key figure in the African Democratic Congress, has declared that Nigeria is currently in a "complete mess." He attributes this critical state to a confluence of factors including ineffective leadership, rampant corruption, and a profound erosion of public trust in the country's governing bodies.

In a recent interview with Vanguard, Utomi elaborated on his concerns. He drew a stark comparison with Egypt's developmental strides, noting that while in Cairo for a conference, he observed the ambitious development of a new city with extensive infrastructure like 14- to 16-lane highways, projecting it to rival Dubai.

Utomi highlighted the persistent issue of power supply in Nigeria, referencing the current administration's promise to resolve it within a year. He expressed bewilderment as to why accountability has not been enforced, given the ongoing crisis in the power sector. He recounted his personal experience of living in a supposed "Band A" area with frequent power outages, despite paying significantly more than a university professor's salary for inadequate electricity, necessitating the use of supplementary power sources like solar and diesel generators.

He contrasted Nigeria's approach to the Siemens power project with Egypt's. While both nations engaged Siemens around the same time to boost power generation, Egypt's strategy involved securing power capacity exceeding its needs, ensuring a buffer for future demands. In contrast, Nigeria's plan, according to Utomi, was plagued by leadership focused on personal gain, leading to an "unintelligent deal" where funds for the project were allegedly misapplied, and delays, compounded by events like the war in Ukraine, impacted delivery.

Utomi recounted a story shared by the president of the African Finance Corporation (AFC) concerning a road project in Egypt. The Egyptian government had set a strict deadline of 18 months and 10 days for completion, with penalties for delays. When the contractor encountered an unexpected mountain, hindering the timeline, Egyptian authorities swiftly removed the obstacle within two weeks, ensuring the deadline was met. This, Utomi stated, exemplifies the decisive and serious leadership that Nigeria has lacked, contributing to its current predicament.