Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the decline of several once-thriving national institutions, saying Nigeria must learn from its past if it hopes to build a stronger future.
Obi made the remarks in a post shared on his X account on Thursday after attending the 100th anniversary celebration of the Daily Times newspaper in Abuja.
According to him, the event stirred memories of his youth in Onitsha, where he regularly visited a newspaper stand opposite the General Post Office to read newspaper front pages, especially stories on governance, the economy and national development.
He said those early experiences shaped his interest in public affairs and the future of Nigeria.
While touring an exhibition of old Daily Times publications at the anniversary event, Obi said he came across historical records that highlighted the country’s achievements in the years after independence.
He pointed to the growth of the Nigerian Shipping Line, noting that it expanded from six ships in 1959 to 10 ships by 1961 but has since disappeared.
“One of the most striking things I came across was an advertisement for the Nigerian Shipping Line. In 1959, it had 6 ships; by 1960, it had 8; and by 1961, it had grown to 10 ships. Today, more than six decades later, the Nigerian Shipping Line has no ships,” Obi wrote.
He also reflected on the rise and eventual collapse of Nigerian Airways, which he said started operations in 1958 and grew into one of Africa’s leading airlines before shutting down in 2003.
“I also read about Nigerian Airways, which began operations in 1958 and, by 1980, had grown into one of Africa’s leading airlines, with a fleet of over 30 aircraft and direct flights to London, New York, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, and other international destinations. At one point, it even operated a Boeing 747, one of the largest aircraft of its time. Sadly, Nigerian Airways eventually ceased operations in 2003,” he stated.
Drawing a comparison with Emirates Airline, Obi observed that while the Nigerian carrier had already built a sizeable fleet before Emirates began operations in 1985 with just two leased aircraft, the UAE airline has since grown into one of the world’s largest carriers.
“These are not merely stories from old newspapers. They are reminders of what Nigeria once built, what our people were capable of achieving, and, most importantly, what we failed to sustain,” he said.
Obi blamed the collapse of many public institutions on years of poor leadership, corruption, mismanagement and weak accountability.
“The tragedy is not that these institutions belonged to a different era. The tragedy is that a country blessed with enormous human and material resources allowed many of its once-promising institutions to decline and disappear through years of poor leadership, mismanagement, corruption, and weak accountability.”
He added, “Even more painful is the fact that while many of our institutions have weakened or disappeared, corruption seems to have remained one of the few things that has continued to grow.”
The former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians to reflect on why institutions that once functioned effectively failed over time and why countries that once trailed Nigeria have made greater progress.
He also commended Daily Times Chairman, Fidelis Anosike, and his team for preserving an important part of the country’s history through the newspaper’s centenary celebration.
Obi stressed that Nigeria could still recover if leaders embraced competence, accountability, integrity and prudent management of public resources.
“We must stop celebrating what Nigeria used to be and start rebuilding what Nigeria can become. The journey to rebuild Nigeria must begin now. A New Nigeria is Possible,” he concluded.