World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said Nigeria cannot achieve lasting economic prosperity through budgetary allocations alone if it fails to maintain existing infrastructure.
She made the remarks on Monday while speaking at the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit, themed "Harnessing Our Strengths, Unlocking Our Potentials."
"Endowments alone do not add value. Budgetary allocations alone do not lead to new roads, to good maintenance," Okonjo-Iweala said.
"We lack a maintenance culture in the country. We need maintenance. We need better ports and digital infrastructure, and lower trade costs. Execution is what matters, and successful execution requires focus. It requires prioritisation."
She said sustainable economic growth depends on stronger infrastructure maintenance, disciplined fiscal execution and strategic regional expansion.
Okonjo-Iweala noted that state-level development initiatives also rely on macroeconomic stability at the federal level, adding that disciplined exchange rate management and inflation control are essential to improving economic outcomes.
She said the progress recorded so far indicates Nigeria is moving in the right direction.
The WTO chief also urged Delta State to position itself as a major economic growth hub alongside Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt, saying broader regional development would help ease pressure on existing commercial centres.
She endorsed Delta State's proposed ₦1.664 trillion 2026 budget, noting that its emphasis on capital expenditure could support stronger economic growth.
However, she cautioned that public resources should be managed prudently and directed toward productive investments rather than non-essential spending.
Okonjo-Iweala also identified Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as one of the most effective industrial policy tools for governments operating with limited fiscal resources.
She said SEZs enable governments to concentrate infrastructure, regulatory support, skilled labour and supply chains in designated locations to attract investment.
Highlighting Delta State's natural gas resources, she said the assets provide a strong foundation for industrial development but stressed that successful industrial parks would require federal support to ensure reliable electricity, transport infrastructure, water supply and digital connectivity.
