Nigeria cannot build its way to economic prosperity through budgetary allocations alone if it fails to maintain the infrastructure it already has, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General warned on Monday.
Speaking at the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit themed ‘Harnessing Our Strengths, Unlocking Our Potentials’, the WTO chief stressed that sustainable growth hinges on a fundamental shift toward a strong maintenance culture, disciplined fiscal execution, and strategic regional expansion.
“Endowments alone do not add value. Budgetary allocations alone do not lead to new roads, to good maintenance,” Okonjo-Iweala told state leaders, investors, and policy experts. “We lack a maintenance culture in the country. We need maintenance. We need better ports and digital infrastructure, and lower trade costs. Execution is what matters, and successful execution requires focus. It requires prioritisation.”
The economist emphasized that state-level initiatives depend heavily on federal macroeconomic stability, noting that disciplined exchange rate management and inflation control are vital to improving overall prospects for success.
She added that Nigeria’s progress recorded so far indicates the country is moving in the right direction.
