As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, real estate strategist and Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has identified what he described as seven major barriers standing in the way of the country’s national development.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Thursday, October 1, 2026, China said the essence of nationhood was ultimately tied to development, arguing that a country’s policies, political programmes and aspirations were meaningful only when they translated into improved living conditions and prosperity for its people.
According to him, the seven barriers are what he described as cash-money mentality, “go-grabber” political culture, personal-gratification leadership, a holistic extrinsic blame culture, failure to monetise problems and obstacles, myopic local thinking and lack of courage. He said Nigeria’s economic decline from the 1980s had deepened the consequences of these challenges.
On the issue of leadership, China said the country needed leaders capable of placing national interest above personal benefits. He also criticised what he called the culture of taking from the country rather than asking what individuals could contribute to it. He called for the emergence of what he described as “super-mature” leaders who could postpone personal gratification and work for the benefit of the wider population.
China also urged Nigerians to abandon the culture of blaming external factors for national problems. He argued that development required individuals to take responsibility for solving challenges within their areas of competence. He cited the housing sector as an example, saying he had embarked on efforts to address Nigeria’s housing challenges regardless of whether government support was available.
The Mayor of Housing further challenged Nigerians to view the country’s problems as opportunities for enterprise, rather than obstacles that could only be solved by government. He cited Nigeria’s housing deficit as an example of a challenge that could create enormous economic opportunities if entrepreneurs developed solutions capable of operating at scale. He also identified poor infrastructure, inadequate human capital, dependence on primary products, corruption, weak governance and foreign exchange shortages among physical barriers to economic growth.
China said courage was required to confront the country’s development challenges, take responsibility, build businesses and scale successful local solutions beyond their immediate communities. He also called for greater individual independence, arguing that national independence would have limited meaning if citizens lacked the freedom and economic capacity to think, produce wealth and live independently. According to him, Nigerians need a level playing field that allows them to use their abilities productively rather than operating in an environment filled with barriers.
