General
Poor Leadership: Principal or Instrumental Explanation for Nigeria’s Underdevelopment?
By Jerome-Mario Utomi
There is no gainsaying that Nigeria is plagued with development challenges such as widespread poverty, insecurity, corruption, the gross injustice and ethnic politics.
Also, evidence abounds that the nation is in dire need of attention/support from interventionist’s organisations (private and civil society organisations) to help unleash economic development, promotes growth and structural change, with some measures of distributive equity, modernisation in social and cultural attitudes, a degree of political transformation and stability, an improvement in health and education so that population growth stabilizes, and an increase in urban living and employment.
What is yet to be uncovered is/are the principal and instrumental factors that set the stage for this unending national malady, as well as give it a boost to thrive unhindered in the country.
To many, corruption is the principal factor exacerbating the nation’s underdevelopment. It is the single reason Nigeria has remained underdeveloped. Corruption has eaten so deep into the fabric of the nation, so much so that it has become a threat to the very existence of the nation.
Talking about corruption is almost like wasting precious time on an issue that has come to stay and not in any hurry to leave. To some, the challenge is rooted in the ‘Federal Character Principle’ which was introduced into the 1979 Constitution, to among other responsibilities; promote peace, stability, sharing of power and resources amongst the states, has contrary to expectations failed to achieve the primed principle but, lowered education standards in the country, compromised standards and professionalism in the nation’s civil service by ignoring meritocracy.
The rest are on the one hand, particularly of the view that the existence of weak institutions daily undermined by strong figures, region and ‘political Maradonas’ breeds national mediocrity.
Others on the other hand blame the nation’s deformed Federal System which has not only made the centre more attractive with federating states stripped of valuable responsibilities/autonomy but made the nation stand in an inverted pyramid shape with more power concentrated at the top and the base not formidable enough making collapse inevitable if urgent and fundamental steps are not taken,
Definitely, this piece agrees with most of the reasons above being responsible for the situation/challenge in the country. However, I would like to add to what I have just observed above that the problem in the country would need to be looked at in a wider and, indeed, deeper context of the evolution and development in the wider human society particularly in Nigeria where corruption has held all square bound.
At this point, the question may be asked; what impact has leadership had on the development of the nation? Are political leaders in Nigeria patrons or profiteers?
Again, looking at the multiple layers of formal and informal political leadership in post-colonial Nigeria where political leaders are the primary holders, controllers and distributors of power and resources, it elicits the question as to whether poor leadership is a principal or instrumental factor impeding the development of the country?
To add to the contest, talking about principal or instrumental factors impeding the development, Sylvester Enomah clarifies the concern in his book entitled ‘the Nature of Metaphysics’.
According to him, as the term designates it, instrumental cause means a thing or instrument that aids the agent or the principal cause in the process of causation and in the achieving of the effect.
In this case, the instrument is subordinate to the principal cause for direction, principles and initiative. The instrumental cause is handicapped in determining the nature and the character or the type of effect the principal cause intends.
Secondly, the effect is always attributed to the principal cause. The principal cause is intelligent and has the knowledge of what should be the effect of the cause; the instrumental cause may be unintelligent and may not know what may happen or be the effect of the cause. Even if the instrumental cause knows, it is not responsible for the effect of the causality as such.
The instrumental cause is not responsible on the condition that it is a non-living entity, and if it is a living thing, it is at the lower level of existence, for instance, lower animals like dogs. If the living entity is a man, the effect is not attributed to him, or he is not responsible on the condition that he is handicapped, i.e. he cannot hear, think, see, and smell, reason, mentally depraved, underage or under threat.
From the above explanation, it is deductible in my views that leadership challenge is the principal factor responsible for Nigeria’s underdevelopment while corruption, a system of government are but instrumental reasons.
Even Barrister Lee Kuen Yew, pioneer prime minister of Singapore shares similar views.
Let’s listen to him; my experience of developments in Asia has led me to conclude that we need good people to have a good government. However good the system of government, bad leaders will bring harm to their people.
On the other hand, I have seen several societies well-governed in spite of poor systems of government, because good, strong leaders were in charge. I have also seen so many of the over 80 constitutions drafted by Britain and France for their former colonies come to grief, and not because of flaws in the constitutions. It was simply that the preconditions for a democratic system of government did not exist.
Again, sometime in May 2016, the Prime Minister of Britain, David Cameron, described Nigeria and Afghanistan as “fantastically corrupt” in a conversation with the Queen. Cameron had said, “We’ve got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain… Nigeria and Afghanistan, possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world.”
Closely related to the above is the reality that the managers of our nation’s economy continue to go against the provisions of the constitutions as an attempt to disengage governance from public sector control of the economy has only played into waiting hands of the profiteers of goods and services to the detriment of the Nigerian people.
While the nation continues to lie prostrate and diminish socially and economically with grinding poverty and starvation driving more and more men into the ranks of the beggars, whose desperate struggle for bread renders them insensible to all feelings of decency and self-respect, the privileged political few continue to flourish in obscene and splendour as they pillage and ravage the resources of our country at will.
Finally, the truth is that if nothing is done to alleviate this appealing situation, it will hopelessly confirm why the nation is stumbling.
Jerome-Mario Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via jeromeutomi@yahoo.com/08032725374.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Fuel distribution company, SGR, has tackled the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), which raised concerns about the company’s pump price of N899 per litre and its alleged anti-competitive operations.
In a statement, the firm emphasized its commitment to transparency, fair pricing, and the well-being of Nigerian consumers.
SGR clarified that its current price is a reflection of prevailing market conditions, including the cost of fuel procurement, logistics, and the need to sustain service quality across all its outlets nationwide.
“Pricing in a deregulated downstream sector is shaped by multiple market forces,” the statement read. “Our pricing model is competitively aligned with these realities and is not intended to destabilize the market or place pressure on fellow marketers.”
IPMAN had recently argued that major marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited often sell fuel at lower prices than independent marketers, expressing that based on advantages like access to foreign exchange, logistics, and direct supply chains, put its members at a disadvantages since it relies on third-party supply sources and pay higher landing costs.
SGR also reaffirmed its willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with stakeholders like IPMAN to ensure a stable and sustainable fuel supply system in the country.
The organisation reiterated that it remains focused on delivering service excellence and maintaining the trust of its customers in the long term.
This development comes amid wider discussions around fuel pricing and distribution in Nigeria’s evolving energy market.
Since the deregulation of the Nigerian downstream petroleum sector, prices have been reflective based on how the international market operates, aligning with broader efforts to liberalise Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and attract private sector investment.
One of the major aspects of deregulation is that the Nigerian government does not strictly fix or subsidise fuel prices as it did in the past, thereby allowing market forces (demand and supply) to determine the pump prices. This is why prices now vary at different filling stations.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Shipowners have commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, for the directive to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to commence the process for the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).
Last week, Mr Oyetola instructed NIMASA to initiate the long-awaited disbursement process for the CVFF.
The CVFF, established under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003, was designed to empower Nigerian shipping companies through access to structured financing for vessel acquisition.
However, successive administrations failed to operationalize the fund—until now. This directive marks a significant shift from over two decades of administrative stagnation and ushers in a new era of strategic repositioning of Nigeria’s indigenous shipping.
Several stakeholders including Mr Greg Ogbeifun, the Managing Director of Starzs Marine and Engineering Limited, said the directive is a welcome development that will further spur the growth of the sector.
He also urged the government to ensure that the requirements of the act are followed.
He said that the minister is acting accordingly by taking the bull by its horns through the disbursement of the fund.
“The minister’s move is commendable. The important thing is that due processes, according to the requirements of the Act, have to be followed. I have looked at the marine notice that was sent out, and I think it’s in line with the requirements of the Act,” Mr Ogbeifun said.
He mentioned that, looking at the previous guidelines, there is a reason to believe that the minister is acting accordingly.
“But I don’t know if the requirements of the Act, as it relates to the legislative part of government, are followed,” he stated.
Mr Ogbeifun reiterated that the directive would unlock the long-standing issue of disbursement of the CVFF.
On his part, the President of SOAN, Mr Sonny Eja, applauded Mr Oyetola, stating that the decision was a welcome development.
Mr Eja mentioned that aside from being long overdue, partnering with the Bank of Industry for the disbursement is another feat.
“I would say this is a welcome development, though it’s long overdue. I have always said to people, don’t blame yourself for not doing something yesterday or for not doing something last week or last month, the best time to start is now, and so it’s a welcome development.
“I am equally excited about the fact that they are partnering with Bank of Industry (BOI) in respect of this fund. For me, to hear that they are going to work with BOI to disburse this fund is quite a good development,” Mr Eja added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Troops of the Nigerian Army have destroyed 16 illegal refining sites in Rivers and Bayelsa states, while arresting 23 suspects and recovering massive volumes of stolen crude oil and refined products as part of ongoing efforts against crude oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta.
The operations, conducted by troops of the Nigerian Army 6 Division Port Harcourt, in conjunction with other security agencies between April 14 and 20, 2025, also led to the recovery of weapons, pumping equipment, wooden boats, and thousands of litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) known as diesel.
In a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the troops deactivated four illegal refineries at Oando operated wellhead in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State, recovering over 35,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,500 litres of refined AGO, pumping machines, and a wellhead valve.
According to the spokesperson, the illicit activity was being carried out using an 80-metre long pipe connected directly to the wellhead.
“These heinous crimes were perpetrated through the use of an 80 meters long pipe connected to the Wellhead used for siphoning crude oil,” he said.
Also in Bayelsa, troops intercepted tricycles transporting stolen petroleum products along the Gbarain–Zarama axis, arresting two suspects in connection with the theft.
“In Rivers and Abia States, clearance operations around the Imo River corridor led to the dismantling of six artisanal refineries, seizure of 1,100 sacks containing over 22,000 litres of stolen products, and confiscation of 30 drum pots and 24 drum receivers. These were recovered around Obuzor (Ukwa West LGA, Abia) and Okoloma (Oyigbo LGA, Rivers State).
“At Okrika Creek, troops acting on intelligence recovered a wooden boat loaded with 2,500 litres of stolen crude oil, suspected to have been illegally siphoned from the NNPC Jetty in Okrika. In Kula, Akuku-Toru LGA, three buyers and three sellers of stolen products were apprehended, leading to the seizure of three tugboats, a fibre boat, and over 1,500 litres of refined AGO.
“In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (ONELGA), a wooden boat filled with several sacks of stolen crude was intercepted at Obohia Road, while additional seizures were made at Okwuzi and Okarki Forest in Ahoada West LGA.
“In Delta State, troops busted a kidnappers’ hideout around Rhobot City, Asaba, and Iselle Azagba in Aniocha LGA. Two suspects were arrested and a cache of dangerous weapons recovered, including two pump-action rifles, a double-barrel gun, one dane gun, 56 cartridges, 13 cutlasses, charms, and cult regalia.
“Also in Warri South LGA, troops raided an illegal refining site, confiscating three cooking pots, an unspecified quantity of refined AGO, and three drums filled with over 600 litres of stolen crude oil.
“In Akwa Ibom State, the army maintained a strong operational presence to deter oil theft and other criminal activities.”
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, visited troops’ locations in Bayelsa and Delta States, where he commended the soldiers and urged them to maintain the momentum.
“Your welfare will continue to receive the desired attention as you surge operations against economic saboteurs and associated crimes in the region,” he assured.
The Nigerian Army said the operations are part of a broader effort to dismantle oil theft networks and secure Nigeria’s economic assets in the Niger Delta.
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