News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
As Nigerians celebrate the New Year 2025, a financial expert, Mr Nick Agule has called on the federal and state governments to commit Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) to projects for the overall development of the nation.
Agule was responding to some Nigerians praying that 2025 should bring relief and reward for their patience and sacrifice.
Agule who noted that prayers alone don’t develop nations said development only happens when leaders commit capital expenditure to projects.
He said “Unfortunately prayers don’t develop nations. Of the 10 top developed nations, only US and UK rank anywhere on the most religious nations. The UK specifically because the Head of State (the King) is also the Head of the Anglican Church.
“So long as Nigerian leaders are speaking like analysts like us; this should happen, we should be doing this, instead of actually making things happen in their executive capacities or speaking as if they are still on electoral campaigns, promising things they want to do, instead of telling us what they have done and what they will achieve at a time, there is no way prayers can get us anywhere.”
He said the country needs power supply, steel plants, mechanized industrial agriculture complete with irrigation for all-year farming, gas, rail lines, roads, security to boost tourism, education, healthcare among others.
The development expert insisted that until CAPEX goes into these sectors and Nigeria is turned into a giant construction site, “we can continue to pray till our lives end and the next generation takes over, but there will simply be no development.
According to him, “Development doesn’t happen by miracles, it’s resultant from development plans that are actually delivered.
“I think we have prayed for far too long, this is time to do the real hard work by committing capex to projects and we need to drum this more into the ears of our leaders.
