Prof. Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, have identified prolonged bad leadership and a flawed moral foundation as major obstacles to Nigeria's development. They made these remarks at the 30th anniversary lecture of Nasarawa State, held in Lafia on October 1, 2022, marking the state's creation in 1996. Jega delivered the keynote address, while Kukah presented a separate lecture.
According to Jega, Nigeria has suffered from "tragic misfortune" due to bad leadership, which he categorized into two phases. The first phase was under prolonged military authoritarian rule, which was undemocratic and lacked consultation. The second phase was under civilian rule since 1999, which initially raised high hopes but has left many citizens, especially youths, disillusioned due to poverty, unemployment, and doubts over electoral integrity.
Jega used Nasarawa State as a case study, noting that the state started with the least resources when it was created. He quoted former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, stating that at its creation, Nasarawa had "one tarred road, no water board, and no secretariat," with an estimated population of 1.5 million and 3.7 per cent Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) contribution in 1997. Thirty years later, the state has grown significantly, with a population of about 3.3 million people and an 11 per cent IGR contribution.
The state has witnessed significant growth across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Public primary schools have increased from 1,402 to over 2,100, secondary schools from about 150 to 490, and tertiary institutions from 2 with 2,500 students to 18 with over 60,000 students. Additionally, primary healthcare centres have risen from 150 to 895, and tarred roads have expanded from 200-300km to 1,500km, with 639km added in the last seven years.
Jega cited surveys by the World Bank, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), showing that poverty in Nasarawa has dropped from 70 per cent in 1996 to 62 per cent in 2026, with official NBS 2022 data indicating that the state has about 57 per cent poverty rate. However, multidimensional poverty remains high at 79.8 per cent. The state has also made progress in living standards, with pipe-borne water coverage increasing from 5-8 per cent at creation to 29 per cent urban coverage.
Kukah, in his presentation, noted that managing diversity remains Nigeria's greatest failure. He referenced the encounter between Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sir Ahmadu Bello, highlighting that Nigeria has failed to either forget or understand its differences 66 years after independence. Kukah anchored his lecture on Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution, which prioritizes citizens' welfare, and Section 14 on Federal Character, aimed at creating a sense of belonging.
Nasarawa State, with over 30 ethnic groups across 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs), is considered a miniature Nigeria. The state has significant potential, including the Farin Ruwa Waterfalls in Wamba. Jega described Governor Abdullahi Sule's seven-year administration as "a significant ray of hope" and transformational, citing investments in urban renewal, health, agriculture, education, industrialisation, and mining. If sustained, these efforts could make Nasarawa "the state to beat."
Key points
- Former INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah attribute Nigeria's development challenges to bad leadership and a flawed moral foundation.
- Nasarawa State has made significant progress in education, healthcare, and infrastructure over the past 30 years.
- Managing diversity remains Nigeria's greatest failure, according to Kukah.
