‘Political instability preventing Nigeria from achieving dev’t goals’

As Nigeria continues to fail in fulfilling its long-term development goals set to improve the economic and social well-being of its citizens, a development expert and Wazirin Katsina, Sen. Ibrahim M. Ida, has attributed the challenge to political instability. Ida while presenting a keynote address at the Katsina State Investment Summit, said Nigeria has over […]

As Nigeria continues to fail in fulfilling its long-term development goals set to improve the economic and social well-being of its citizens, a development expert and Wazirin Katsina, Sen. Ibrahim M. Ida, has attributed the challenge to political instability.

Ida while presenting a keynote address at the Katsina State Investment Summit, said Nigeria has over the years adopted several long-term projects to guide its development but the implementation of the plans has been scuttled by lack of implementation which is fueled by political interests.

He said this interest often prioritises short term political objectives than long term development goals, thus disrupting implementation of the goals.

“Why does Nigeria consistently produce excellent plans but rarely implement them? The answers are complex but not beyond our understanding. Often, the failure lies not in design, but in execution.

“Some administrations simply lack the political will to pursue long-term reforms. Others are derailed by short-term political interests, distractions, or crises. In many instances, poor stakeholder engagement, weak institutional frameworks, and limited accountability mechanisms undermine policy rollout.”

 

“But above all, one recurring factor is political instability. The absence of policy continuity, the tendency to discard one administration’s blueprint for another’s agenda, has severely undermined sustainable development. This cyclical abandonment of long-term plans for short-term gain is a major obstacle to progress.”

 

He added that no nation develops by repeatedly setting aside strategic visions in favour of immediate convenience.

 

“If we are serious about development, at both national and subnational levels, then policy implementation must become more than a government function, it must become a cultural expectation. It must be our shared commitment, our collective mindset, and indeed, our national ethos,” he said.

 

He added that development is not a journey for the government alone but requires the active participation and engagement of the people.

 

He called on the people of Katsina to support socio-economic progress by patronising local goods and services, investing in thriving businesses, offering innovative ideas, promoting peace and stability, and constructively holding leaders accountable.

 

“At the same time, our people must be made to view governance as trustworthy, just, accountable, proactive, and transparent. They need to see that their leaders are genuinely listening and that reforms are data-driven, purposeful, and designed to improve their lives. As leaders, we bear the responsibility to earn this trust. We must demonstrate focus, empathy, and compassion in our leadership, giving citizens every reason to believe in our capacity to steer the state towards a better future,” he stated.