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“Oyibo Left, Everything Decayed” — Aja Says Nigeria Lost Its Way After Independence.
Amid growing economic hardship and soaring living costs nationwide, financial analyst Kalu Aja has sparked widespread debate after asserting that Nigeria’s economy performed better under British colonial rule than it has since independence in 1960.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Aja made the controversial statement in a post shared on his (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, January 17, where he contrasted Nigeria’s economic strength in the 1950s with its present-day struggles, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Acknowledging that his position may be uncomfortable for many, Aja maintained that it is rooted in historical facts. He argued that Nigeria’s pre-independence economy thrived due to structured governance and effective administrative systems put in place during the colonial era.
“It’s uncomfortable to hear because it’s true,” he wrote.
According to Aja, Nigeria was once a major player in global agricultural production, earning significant foreign exchange through export-oriented commodities rather than merely producing food for local consumption.
He noted that in the 1950s, Nigeria ranked among the world’s leading producers of key cash crops, including groundnuts, palm oil and cocoa.
“Everyone knows Nigeria was an agricultural powerhouse in the 1950s — not just for yams, but for foreign currency cash crops like groundnuts (top two globally), palm oil (top three globally) and cocoa (top three globally),” he stated.
The analyst questioned the disappearance of once-prominent agricultural landmarks and industries that previously defined the nation’s economy, lamenting their steady decline after independence.
“What happened after independence? Where are the pyramids of groundnuts or palm plantations today?” he asked.
Aja attributed the collapse of these sectors to leadership failures in the post-independence era, insisting that agriculture and other productive industries flourished largely because of the discipline and structure enforced by colonial administrators.
“The truth is those sectors prospered because of oyibo; when oyibo left, everything decayed,” he added.
His remarks come at a time when many Nigerians are struggling with worsening economic conditions, including rising food prices, increased transportation costs and shrinking purchasing power.
Although official data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates a drop in headline inflation to 15.15 per cent in December 2025, the impact of high living costs remains deeply felt across both urban and rural areas.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently rejected claims of economic decline, maintaining that ongoing reforms are laying the groundwork for recovery and sustainable growth.
Government officials have described recent policy measures — including subsidy removal and fiscal restructuring — as necessary short-term sacrifices aimed at repositioning the economy for long-term stability.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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