By Stephen Gbadamosi
Governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ogun State in the last general elections, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi, has decried the parlous state of infrastructure in the country.
Ajadi gave this concern while speaking with journalists on Monday on the backdrop of his experiences in the course of his recent tourism vacation to Tanzania.
He expressed serious concern over the parlous state of infrastructure in the country, with particular reference to the power and aviation sectors of the economy.
He urged the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibility of ensuring workable infrastructure for economic growth and the people’s wellbeing.
Ajadi described the near comatose state of power, roads and water facilities in the country as disheartening, describing it as a strong indictment on those holding the reins of power.
He said he wondered why Nigeria, with over 200 million people, was still talking about 5,000 megawatts of power supply, “whereas, countries with fewer populations, like Tanzania, are already consolidating 20 hours power supply to their citizens.”
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He contended that Nigeria needed to do more in those crucial sectors to be able to attain real socio-economic development, adding that his short tourism experience vacating in Tanzania had redoubled his conviction and strident calls for a focused government in Nigeria across all levels “to make quality governance possible in the country.”
That kind of governance, he said, was possible with putting individuals with clarity of vision and sincerity of purpose in key positions.
He said despite being comparatively small, the Tanzania airport, for example, could boast of needed aviation facilities and a more conducive environment, thus, calling on the Nigerian government to “urgently prioritise facilities, not just at the airports and other gateways, but also at other sectors critical to the nation’s socioeconomic development.”
“My experience in Tanzania has shown, indeed, that workable and efficient infrastructure is possible in Nigeria; it only needs the resolve and the right persons.
“If 24-hour power supply is possible in Tanzania, it should be much more so in Nigeria, not to talk of other associated infrastructure. I am using this opportunity, therefore, to appeal to our government to prioritise our infrastructure so that the much desired sustainable economic development would become a reality in Nigeria,” Ajadi said.
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