‘Trust deficit not resources keeps Nigeria poor ‘
Rear Admiral Bolanle Ati-John (rtd) has identified lack of institutional trust, not scarcity of resources, as the major barrier to Nigeria’s growth and sovereignty. Speaking at Akintunde Adeosun Foundation Leadership
Rear Admiral Bolanle Ati-John (rtd) has identified lack of institutional trust, not scarcity of resources, as the major barrier to Nigeria’s growth and sovereignty.
Speaking at Akintunde Adeosun Foundation Leadership Colloquium, Ati-John said nations prosper when their institutions are predictable, transparent and credible, stressing “trust surplus” is critical to building wealth.
He said countries with fewer natural resources have achieved stability and prosperity because their systems guarantee consistency in policy implementation, contract enforcement and rule of law.
He contrasted Nigeria’s experience with Norway’s, noting while both benefited from oil wealth, Norway built a strong sovereign wealth structure anchored on transparency and institutional credibility.
“The difference was predictability, not geology” he said.
Ati-John said trust is “strategic capital,” arguing progress depends on whether citizens and investors believe rules will be fair and consistently.
“Where trust exceeds uncertainty, wealth compounds. Where uncertainty exceeds trust, instability compounds.”
He attributed our challenges to “resource paradox,” where natural wealth fails to translate into prosperity due to weak institutional frameworks.
Using maritime as example, he said unpredictable port procedures and inconsistent enforcement drove cargo to neighbouring countries, but improved coordination helped restore confidence.
On reforms, he said policies fail due to weak institutional credibility, citing the currency redesign as how inconsistency erodes public confidence.
He also linked insecurity to economic decline, noting that farmers in parts of northern Nigeria have reduced investments due to uncertainty around safety, thereby affecting agricultural output and credit access.
“Security is economic infrastructure,” he said.
Ati-John further warned that digital initiatives such as BVN and NIN integration would not automatically build trust without strong data protection and administrative reliability.
On youth migration, she said many skilled Nigerians are seeking opportunities abroad due to more predictable systems that guarantee contract enforcement and fair compensation.
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“Trust retains talent. Uncertainty exports it,” he added.
He maintained that national sovereignty is tied to institutional strength, explaining that weak enforcement and fiscal opacity increase borrowing costs and external dependence.
Ati-John called for deliberate efforts to build what she termed the “architecture of trust,” including consistent rule application, judicial efficiency, transparent fiscal systems and policy continuity.
He urged leaders to make trust measurable through indicators such as dispute resolution timelines, transparency in government contracts and consistency in regulatory enforcement.
According to him, building trust requires “moral clarity and institutional courage,” especially in systems where uncertainty benefits those who exploit discretionary power.
He emphasised that values such as excellence, integrity and empathy must move beyond rhetoric to practical governance tools.
“Trust is not a soft virtue. It is the hardest form of capital,” he said.
Ati-John challenged leaders across sectors to prioritise decisions that strengthen institutional credibility, noting that national development depends on “a million small acts of institutional faithfulness.”
The colloquium brought together leaders from various sectors to discuss strategies for strengthening governance and national development.
