Archbishop says Nigerians suffer because of government mismanagement

Published: 2006-11-07

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Despite Nigeria's wealth from natural resources, Nigerians are suffering because of government mismanagement, said Nigerian Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja. Unlike officials in other countries, Nigerian public officials are not concerned with unemployment; in Nigeria "government and governance has been practically reduced to merely manipulating oil wealth," said Archbishop Onaiyekan. He said Nigerians are resourceful and motivated, but the country "will never be truly great until the people are well managed and motivated to perform at their optimal standard." He said, "In a nation where many young graduates roam the street unemployed for years or are underemployed ... there is something seriously wrong." Archbishop Onaiyekan was among participants in a Nov. 1-4 conference in Enugu, Nigeria, to discuss reversing the so-called "resource curse," when a country's natural wealth does not create wealth for its citizens. A copy of his remarks was obtained by Catholic News Service in Washington.

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