By Our Correspondent
National News – Idongesit Wilson, a public health expert and All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives aspirant for Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, has blamed Nigeria’s governance challenges on weak implementation of existing policies rather than lack of legislation.
Speaking during a media interaction with journalists in Uyo on Friday, May 1, 2026, Wilson emphasized that the country’s development gap is driven by poor execution and inadequate capacity within the public service.
The APC aspirant, who is contesting to represent Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency covering Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, and Eastern Obolo local government areas, said Nigeria does not suffer from policy scarcity but from ineffective execution structures.
He noted that without trained, accountable, and result-oriented public servants, even well-designed policies fail to deliver results to citizens across health, education, and economic sectors.
He stressed capacity building as the missing link in governance reform.
He called for urgent training and reorientation of civil servants, insisting that implementation success depends on placing the right people in the right positions and ensuring strict monitoring frameworks.
Drawing from his experience in the health sector, Wilson explained that weak primary healthcare systems often lead to preventable deaths and complications due to poor first-contact care and low awareness among citizens.
He further advocated stronger public health awareness campaigns, noting that prevention through education, early detection, and community engagement remains the most cost-effective approach to reducing disease burden in Nigeria.
Beyond healthcare, he highlighted education reform, vocational training, youth empowerment, and targeted support for small businesses as key drivers of sustainable development in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.
Wilson concluded that meaningful development requires a shift in governance mindset, where leaders and citizens prioritize collective progress over personal gain, while also engaging institutions and multinational companies to ensure local communities benefit from investments and industrial presence.
He urged sustained political will and stronger institutional accountability mechanisms to close Nigeria’s long-standing implementation gap and improve service delivery outcomes across all sectors.
