Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that leadership failures are forcing many Nigerians to seek better opportunities abroad, often through dangerous migration routes.
Obasanjo made the remarks on Saturday during a panel session at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend 2026 in Lagos, where he called for urgent action to tackle insecurity, unemployment and poverty.
He said poor governance and the lack of economic opportunities were driving citizens, particularly young people, to risk their lives in search of a better future.
“We have to improve our leadership to deliver, and once our leadership delivers, what does any man want in the world? But if they have nothing here, they will look for whatever they can get anywhere else, and you can’t blame them,” he said.
The former president noted that some Nigerians who attempt to cross the Sahara Desert or the Mediterranean Sea die in the process, describing their stories as pathetic.
Obasanjo stressed that improving governance and creating jobs would reduce the pressure on citizens to leave the country.
He also emphasised the need for stronger leadership across Africa to address underdevelopment and provide citizens with safety and economic opportunities at home.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
