Incompetence Among Leaders Poses Greater Challenge In Nigeria Than Corruption — Agbakoba
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has highlighted incompetence among Nigerian leaders as a more significant issue than corruption. In his recent remarks on the nation’s economic and fuel crises, he reflected on Nigeria’s longstanding problems, dating back to the 1970s.
“It is sad that we have been having this problem for many decades. My father was the head of Red Cross in the East and Pat Utomi’s father was in the business of fuel stations. My girlfriend then, who later became my wife, actually had to go to Pat Utomi’s father in Ibuzo, now Delta State, to get scarce fuel in 1974. That was in 1974, today as we speak, more than 50 years after, we are still in the same problem. What is wrong? That is the issue,” Agbakoba said.
Commenting on the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a 150-day duty-free import window for food items to address food insecurity, Agbakoba expressed skepticism about its effectiveness. “We have grain reserves, but they are all empty. When you say importation, recall what happened with the cement issue. The government of Lagos State, in collaboration with the Chagoury family, divided the maritime approach of Nigeria into two, taking one half called Eko Atlantic. Assuming there is a road that has 10 lanes, so that 10 cars can go at a time, traffic would be reduced. Somebody comes and says, ‘this half, we will close and we will build houses.’
“I raised a point in the context that Nigeria is now an extremely unattractive maritime country because it has no lean approach, but the channels are blocked. So, the 150 days appear as an emergency food lift. I do not think that will resolve the problem. The thing that will resolve the problem is in fact our resilience. We are at a brink where things would have been aflame by now but somehow, we have managed it.
“I think that is what will resolve it and not dependent on food imports. How many vessels will come here to feed 200 million people? At the end of the day, what will help is for the government to change its policies in respect of borrowing. Why are we borrowing when we have assets? If you borrow, is it going for development or for contracts?” he added.
Addressing the persistent issue of corruption in Nigeria, Agbakoba argued that incompetence is an even bigger challenge. “I know a journalist from the Netherlands who opened my eyes to two issues. She said: ‘What is the bigger issue; incompetence or corruption?’ They are both bad, but incompetence is bigger than corruption. The percentage of corruption and its impact on the economy is far less than incompetence. Yes, corruption is a problem, but what is the percentage in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), when you look at corruption versus incompetence? Incompetence means you do not know it.
“What I see here is that incompetence is bigger than corruption. We can actually incorporate corruption and be developed, though it is not a good idea. After all, corruption is everywhere in different degrees. I would rather have a competent corrupt government. I am left to think that the only reason why what is going on is happening is because of incompetence or lack of knowledge, and they are all the same thing.
“If our government understands section 44 of the Constitution, why do they make International Oil Companies (IOCs) co-partners when they are not co-partners? What is this incompetence that the government exhibits? It is bigger than corruption! Corruption is a problem, but it is a minor problem compared to when you do not know what to do. So, you are lost. Anyone who comes and tells you something; you swallow it.
“Incompetence is the biggest problem we have. How can a person ‘chop’ breakfast and you have an agency that vets this process to make sure that the IOCs do not overload their invoices? Does it not see it? That may be corruption, but I think it is incompetence because incompetence is the problem why gas keeps getting flared,” Agbakoba added.
