The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has declared that Nigeria`s vast natural endowments and annual budgetary allocations will continue to yield zero development unless the country fixes its critical deficit in project execution and asset maintenance.

Speaking on Monday at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba, the capital city, the global economic chief delivered a blunt assessment of her home country`s economic management strategy. She argued that the nation`s habit of abandoning infrastructure and failing to follow through on economic plans remains a primary barrier to sustainable growth.

"The fact is that endowments alone do not add value," Okonjo-Iweala told the gathering of policymakers, investors, and state officials. "Budgetary allocations alone do not lead to new roads or good maintenance. We lack a maintenance culture in the country. I have to say that. I’m Nigerian, but we need that."

The WTO chief stressed that the true metric of economic governance is not the size of a budget or the wording of a policy, but the efficiency of its implementation. She noted that Nigeria`s path to global competitiveness relies heavily on modernising its trade entry points and slashing bureaucratic red tape.

"We need better ports and digital infrastructure, and lower trade costs," she stated. "Execution is what matters, and successful execution requires focus. It requires prioritisation."

The summit, organised by the Delta State government, serves as a strategic platform to match institutional investors with emerging business opportunities in the Niger Delta region.

Delegates at the event noted that Okonjo-Iweala’s remarks serve as a direct wake-up call to both state and federal governments to transition from political rhetoric to strict project accountability.