Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over Nigeria’s exclusion from the International Monetary Fund’s latest list of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, calling it a sobering reflection of the country’s ongoing economic challenges.
In a statement released on Friday, Obi noted that while the nations featured in the IMF report may not surpass Nigeria in natural resource wealth, they have outpaced it in governance, discipline, and investment in human capital.
“These countries are not richer than us in natural resources,” Obi said, “but they have become richer in discipline, leadership, and commitment to improving their people.”
He credited the economic growth of these nations to strategic investments in education, healthcare, and poverty reduction, alongside a commitment to fiscal responsibility and policy stability.
In contrast, Obi lamented that Nigeria’s economy continues to falter under the weight of “poor policy choices, corruption, and waste.” He called for a return to foundational principles of development, emphasizing the need to prioritize production over consumption, human capital over political patronage, and governance over transactional politics.
“Nigeria has all it takes not just to be among the fastest-growing economies, but to lead them,” he asserted. “What we need is competent and compassionate leadership—one that sees governance as a call to service, not as a transaction for criminal acquisition of unearned wealth.”
Obi urged Nigerians and policymakers alike to recommit to building a nation grounded in transparency, productivity, and shared prosperity. He concluded with a call to action, stating that if smaller African nations can achieve sustained growth through discipline and clear policy direction, then “the giant of Africa must awaken.”
The statement comes amid growing public discourse on Nigeria’s economic trajectory and the urgent need for structural reforms to restore investor confidence and improve living standards.
