Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has criticized the failure of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, which he described as a glaring example of Nigeria’s wasted development opportunities. Despite an investment of $11 billion over 43 years, the steel complex remains non-operational.
Speaking with The Punch on Monday after attending the 2024 Oxford Major Programme Management Conference, the Ondo South Senatorial District representative emphasized the scale of mismanagement plaguing Nigeria’s infrastructure projects.
“Ajaokuta has been left idle for 43 years despite the enormous investment,” Ibrahim lamented. He revealed that Nigeria has 11,866 abandoned mega projects, which, if completed, could elevate the country to the development level of advanced nations like the United Kingdom.
Ibrahim urged global stakeholders to view these failures as opportunities for sustainable development. He advocated for a paradigm shift in project management practices to curb resource waste and improve project outcomes.
The senator acknowledged corruption as a pervasive issue, noting that it extends beyond Nigeria’s borders. He compared the challenges in Nigeria to similar issues faced globally, including cost overruns in the UK’s Crossrail project and the US’s failed $65 billion Nevada Yucca project.
“The challenge lies in converting mega projects into tangible benefits,” Ibrahim noted. He called on the Tinubu administration to prioritize the completion of abandoned projects and designate unused initiatives as “National Failed Projects.”
Ibrahim cited successful national projects like the Akpabio Stadium, President Jonathan’s railway initiative, and improvements in Abuja and Lagos airports as examples of infrastructure fostering national unity.
The senator also highlighted his recognition at the Oxford conference, where he received a certificate of appreciation and presented his pioneering book on African mega projects. Ibrahim, an alumnus of the MSc in Major Programme Management at Oxford, is celebrated as the first-ever Business Doctorate graduate from Cambridge and holds a PhD in modern war and foresight.
He is currently working on the proposed University of Fortune in Nigeria, aimed at fostering innovation and education in the country.
