Peterside Advocates for Stronger Institutions in Nigeria

Dr Dakuku Peterside, the former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, delivered a lecture at the Athena-Anchoria Junior Fellowship Programme on “Institutional Reforms Beyond Lagos and Abuja.” He argued that Nigeria's development issues arise not from a lack of policies but from weak institutions that fail to implement leadership and resources effectively. Peterside identified "isomorphic mimicry," where institutional models from other countries are copied without local adaptation, as a major reason for reform failures.

He also discussed "premature load-bearing," which refers to introducing complex reforms before institutions are ready. He advocated for a problem-driven iterative adaptation approach to reform, emphasizing the need for coalitions of political, technical, and civic champions.

Peterside stressed that reforms should extend beyond major cities to local governments and communities. Mr Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, praised Peterside's expertise in governance and institutional reform.