Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the state of the nation, saying Nigeria is not where it ought to be in terms of growth and development.

Obasanjo, spoke weekend during the 8th Brigadier General Michael Agu (rted) annual distinguished lecture and awards ceremony held at Obasanjo Space Centre, Lugbe, Abuja.

His said, “It is not enough for leaders to have policies or make statements. We are not short of policies in Nigeria. Unfortunately, Nigeria has become a burial ground of policies that are either unimplemented or unexecuted.

“Those who make progress achieved progress, not based on wishing to make progress, but on taking actions. They do not take two steps forward and three steps backward.

“Regrettably this is what we are doing in every aspect of our national life. And as long as we are doing things this way, progress will elude us. Let us carry the ones we can carry, we cannot be a jack of all trades and master of none.”

He said when the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, was established by his administration; over 100 Nigerian engineers were sent to China for training in different categories and specialisations.

According to him, his administration had plans to launch its first Satellite in space by China, the second Satellite by Nigeria in collaboration with China and the third plan was to launch Nigeria Satellite in Space exclusively made by Nigeria.

Earlier in his address, the Director General of NARSDA, Dr. Mathew Adepoju, announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of four additional satellites for Nigeria.

25% deaf

In another development, Obasanjo has disclosed that he is almost 25 percent deaf, saying he is helping thousands of deaf people with hearing aid across the country.

The former President spoke in Bauchi where he donated hearing aids to 2,000 people with hearing difficulties. 

He said many people suffer deafness unknowingly, until medical check reveal to them their hearing capacity.

 “I found out on one of my trips abroad that I was 25 percent deaf. I didn’t believe initially when I couldn’t hear someone clearly. There is no issue of stigma because nobody is 100 percent healthy. We all have one form of ailment or the other,” he said.

He explained further that he would be flagging off the distribution of hearing aids to over 10,000 indigent people in the Northeast, starting from Bauchi State where 2,000 people would benefit.

Credit: Vanguard News