Nigeria’s long-standing struggle with poor maintenance culture is significantly hindering its development, according to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She warned that the country’s tendency to neglect public infrastructure and assets after commissioning continues to erode economic gains and stall sustainable growth.
Speaking on the issue, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that billions of naira are often invested in building roads, hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure, only for them to deteriorate rapidly due to lack of proper upkeep. This cycle, she noted, leads to repeated spending on rehabilitation and reconstruction—resources that could have been channeled into new development projects.
She explained that maintenance is not merely a technical responsibility but a cultural and institutional challenge that requires a shift in mindset at all levels of society. From government agencies to private sector operators and citizens, she stressed the need for a collective commitment to preserving and managing assets effectively.
According to her, weak accountability systems and poor enforcement of standards have contributed to the problem. In many cases, there are no clear frameworks for routine inspection, servicing, and repair of infrastructure. As a result, facilities are allowed to decay until they reach a critical state, often requiring costly overhauls.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also highlighted the economic implications of neglecting maintenance. She pointed out that unreliable infrastructure discourages investment, reduces productivity, and undermines the competitiveness of the economy. Businesses, she said, are forced to spend more on alternatives such as private power generation and logistics, increasing the cost of operations.
Beyond infrastructure, she noted that the issue extends to public institutions and systems, where inefficiencies and lack of continuity often disrupt long-term planning and service delivery. She called for stronger policies that prioritize maintenance as a core component of development planning rather than an afterthought.
Stakeholders have echoed her concerns, urging the government to adopt sustainable maintenance frameworks, allocate dedicated budgets for asset management, and enforce stricter oversight mechanisms. There are also calls for increased public awareness to encourage citizens to take greater responsibility for protecting shared assets.
As Nigeria continues to pursue economic growth and modernization, experts believe that addressing the maintenance culture deficit will be crucial. Without a deliberate and sustained effort to preserve existing investments, they warn, the country risks undermining its own development progress and limiting the impact of future projects.