Former Cross River State Governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s economic growth, arguing that the country’s population has increased dramatically without a corresponding expansion in government spending and productivity.
Duke made the remarks while speaking with journalists in Abuja, where he linked Nigeria’s worsening poverty, unemployment, insecurity and social tensions to what he described as decades of failure to improve productivity.
According to him, Nigeria’s population has risen from about 76 million during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari to an estimated 230 million today, while annual government spending, when converted to US dollars, remains around the same level as the Shagari era.
Duke said the Shagari administration operated an average annual budget of about $25 billion between 1979 and 1983.
“Today, our population, they say, is about 230 million people. We are still spending the same $25 billion that Shagari spent 46 years ago,” he said.
He argued that looking at the figures in dollar terms showed that Nigeria had failed to achieve the level of economic expansion required to support its rapidly growing population.
“In essence, the economy has not grown. In fact, it has shrunk because $25 billion in 1979 or 1980 is not the same as $25 billion today,” Duke said.
Duke said the consequences could be seen in the number of Nigerians struggling with poverty, unemployment and insecurity, adding that government should focus on creating conditions that allow citizens to become more productive.
He also questioned Nigeria's approach to infrastructure development, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The former governor asked government to consider the economic value and opportunity cost of the project against other needs, including existing roads and the East-West Road.
Duke acknowledged that he could personally benefit from better connectivity between Lagos and Calabar, but argued that personal interest should not determine national spending priorities.
He said Nigeria should instead give greater attention to areas such as education, poverty reduction and productivity.
“We have the largest number of out-of-school children in the world. We have one of the largest populations of poor people, and you are building a fancy road from Victoria Island to Calabar. It does not work like that,” he said.
Duke also argued that economic hardship contributes to ethnic, religious and regional tensions in Nigeria. He said people tend to rely on identity and political connections when they believe such affiliations could improve their access to scarce opportunities.
The former governor called for a clearer national development vision that would align public spending, infrastructure, education and economic policy with increased productivity.
“Where are we taking this country? We don’t have a vision. We just wake up and do whatever appears important at the moment,” he said.
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