Former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has warned about Nigeria’s growing youth population, cautioning that what should be a demographic blessing could quickly become a national burden if the country fails to provide education, skills, and meaningful opportunities for its young people.
Speaking during an interview on The Exchange hosted by Femi Soneye, he said Nigeria’s inability to convert its youthful energy into productive potential is already manifesting in rising insecurity and economic stagnation.
Recalling the country’s earlier years of optimism, Ndoma-Egba reflected on a time when Nigeria’s economy was vibrant and industrialisation was evident across regions.
“We once had textile factories in Kano and Kaduna, and a meat factory in Bauchi that supplied the entire West African region,” he said. “Those were the days of growth and productivity. Now, all of that is gone.”
He attributed the nation’s steady decline to weak institutions and a cultural reluctance to hold those in power accountable.
“We are too deferential to authority and too timid to question it,” he lamented. “That’s why inefficiency and abuse continue unchecked.”
The former lawmaker also revisited Nigeria’s enduring governance challenge, the high cost of administration.
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He recalled his experience as a young commissioner in the mid-1980s, when attempts to merge ministries to save money only led to overburdened officials and reduced productivity.
According to him, this over-centralisation of power and bureaucracy remains one of the key enablers of corruption today.
Drawing from his tenure at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ndoma-Egba described the agency as “a good idea gone bad.”
He said political interference and disregard for its founding master plan have crippled its effectiveness.
“At one point, there were 62 separate stops for payment processing,” he revealed. “A system like that is designed for inefficiency, not progress.”
He further condemned the frequent dissolution of NDDC boards without adherence to due process, saying the lack of institutional stability makes proper planning impossible.
“If only we could allow a board to complete its full term, as the law provides, we would begin to see meaningful results,” he suggested.
Reflecting on his time in the National Assembly, Ndoma-Egba said legislators had to battle public hostility that stemmed from Nigeria’s long years under military rule.
Many citizens, he noted, saw the legislature as “an unnecessary irritation” because the country had functioned without it for years.
This perception, he added, was worsened by misinformation and scandals such as the much-publicised furniture allowance controversy.
Turning to the youth question, Ndoma-Egba described Nigeria’s young population as a “reservoir of innovation, energy, and courage,” but warned that without proper investment, this potential could turn destructive.
“If they are not educated, if they are not skilled, if they are not empowered, they become a curse,” he said.
He underscored education as the foundation for transformation, arguing that it broadens the mind and exposes individuals to endless opportunities.
However, he cautioned that education alone is not enough without corresponding access to jobs or economic empowerment. “An educated person without opportunity is a threat,” he warned. “An educated armed robber is more dangerous than an uneducated one.”
He urged government at all levels to focus on policies that promote productivity, strengthen institutions, and create opportunities for young Nigerians to thrive.
He concluded with a call for urgent national renewal anchored on two pillars, security and productivity.
“Our future depends on stabilising our institutions and giving our youth a reason to hope,” he said. “Only then can we achieve the secure and prosperous Nigeria we all desire.”