The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said Nigeria’s poor maintenance culture remains a major obstacle to the country’s development.
Okonjo-Iweala made the remark on Monday while speaking at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba.
She stressed that natural resources and budgetary allocations alone cannot drive development without effective implementation and proper maintenance of public infrastructure.
“The fact is that endowments alone do not add value. Budgetary allocations alone do not lead to new roads or good maintenance.
“We lack a maintenance culture in the country. I have to say that. I’m Nigerian, but we need that.
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“We need better ports and digital infrastructure, and lower trade costs. Execution is what matters, and successful execution requires focus. It requires prioritisation,” she said.
The summit brought together government officials, investors, business leaders and other stakeholders to explore investment opportunities and strategies for driving economic growth in Delta State.
