Can our democracy deliver world class cities for us?

BY GBENGA ONABANJO

When Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, there was an outpouring of hope. After long years of military rule, citizens looked forward to a nation that would reflect the virtues of freedom; a country of well-planned, thriving, and equitable cities that mirrored the aspirations of its people. Democracy was expected to usher in accountability, participation, and purposeful leadership that would transform our environment into something worthy of our collective pride. But twenty-six years on, one must ask: has our democracy truly delivered world-class cities?

Our cities tell our story. From Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt to Kano, Ibadan to Onitsha, they mirror the state of our governance. Lagos, for instance, has made commendable strides, yet remains a paradox — a city where innovation and disorder coexist, where bridges rise but drains collapse, and where traffic chaos undermines progress. Abuja, conceived as a model city, has lost its original character to policy inconsistencies and weak institutions. Across the nation, urban development has remained uneven, lacking the continuity and discipline that world-class cities demand. What we have instead is a patchwork of progress — often personality-driven and rarely institutionalised. The larger part of Abuja was conceived during the military era, though.

Democracy, in its truest sense, should promote the rule of law, policy continuity, and a culture of discipline. Yet, our experience has been largely different. Projects are abandoned with every change of administration, master plans are rewritten for political convenience, and the maintenance of public infrastructure is treated as a favour rather than a duty. The result is a democracy without discipline — one that changes faces without changing fortunes.

Across the world, examples abound of what vision, consistency, and civic order can achieve. Dubai, though not a democracy, shows what is possible when leadership is visionary, disciplined, and consistent. From desert sands, it has become a global marvel, built on long-term planning and unflinching commitment. Cape Town, on the other hand, shows that democracy and beauty can coexist when guided by strong institutions and responsible citizenship. Its integration of nature, infrastructure, and social inclusion stands as a lesson in how democratic governance can serve both people and place. The truth, therefore, is unmistakable: democracy alone does not build world-class cities — visionary leadership, institutional discipline, and civic responsibility do.

For us to attain that level, we must wean ourselves of certain behavioural patterns that have become inimical to progress. This must cut across every cadre of leadership — from the local governments to the states and the federal level. We must begin to think globally and act with global standards. We must ask less of what the nation can do for us and more of what we can do for the nation. World-class cities are not merely about skyscrapers and fancy boulevards; they are built on social fabric — ethos, values, and culture that sustain continuity and protect vision from the instability of election cycles. Where citizens feel included and hopeful, crime diminishes and insecurity recedes. The true strength of a city lies not in its concrete, but in its character.

Our social values must be fused with infrastructural blueprints entrenched in carefully curated master plans that are ring-fenced from political manipulation. Only then can greatness be birthed in every street, community, and state. Without adequate infrastructure, a world-class environment cannot evolve. The first step is power — reliable, affordable, and sufficient. A nation of over 200 million people cannot aspire to greatness while generating less than 5,000 megawatts of electricity. Power is the lifeblood of productivity, innovation, and modern living. It drives education, health, transportation, housing and industry — the pillars of civilisation.

We must also harness our abundant resources — agriculture, minerals, and human capital — to create wealth that funds sound education, quality healthcare, efficient transport systems, decent housing and an environment that promotes recreation and wellbeing. A truly world-class city is one that allows its citizens to breathe, think, work and dream freely. It must diversify its economy, utilise its resources judiciously, and guarantee social justice and equity in the distribution of opportunities. Every citizen deserves a minimum standard of living that preserves human dignity. A city with open drains, open sewers, uncollected waste, a pedestrian-unfriendly environment and polluted air can never be world-class. A city where cars outnumber roads and infrastructure decays faster than it is built cannot claim modernity.

To become world-class, a city must enshrine maintenance in its culture. It must plan for the long term — with ten-, fifteen-, and twenty-year projections that outlive political tenures. When recurrent expenditure outweighs capital investment, development is stunted. When leaders treat public funds as personal trophies, progress is reversed. When citizens are excluded from local decision-making, democracy loses its soul. Accountability and transparency must become our watchwords. When the best minds avoid public service and governance is left in the hands of the not-so-qualified, mediocrity becomes the default setting — and mediocrity cannot build greatness.

Our nation must learn to add value to its natural and human resources rather than export them raw. We must maintain our major roads, monitor development along our corridors, and prevent encroachments that compromise safety and order. We must embrace nature by planting trees, greening our cities, and curbing dust and pollution. A city without a clearly defined land-use plan or a master plan insulated from politics, will forever rebuild yesterday instead of designing tomorrow. A truly great city must respect tradition and not alter the structure and densification of mature settlements for return on investment. Great cities have structures built in the 16th century and still standing as conceived in their original locations, even when such locations become prime.

True democracy is not just about elections; it is about outcomes — about whether the lives of citizens are better, safer, and more dignified. A city where leaders hoard public capital for personal gain cannot be world-class. A city where local governments exist merely to share allocations rather than serve people cannot thrive. A city that distributes archaic tools as empowerment mocks its people’s intelligence. Democracy must elevate competence, reward stewardship, and institutionalise a culture of service and responsibility.

To move forward, we must empower local governments to plan, tax, and maintain their domains; institutionalise master plans that survive political transitions; adopt maintenance as policy; and invest in urban mobility and green infrastructure. Citizens must be active participants in shaping the cities they inhabit. When these principles take root, the dividends of democracy will no longer be abstract; they will be visible — in clean streets, healthy neighbours, efficient transport systems, thriving parks, decent houses, good hospitals and smiling citizens.

As we mark this year’s World Cities Day, our leaders must pause and reflect on the legacy they wish to bequeath to future generations. Can we think less of ourselves and redirect resources for the common good — to build cities and infrastructure that will outlive us, as seen in Dubai, Amsterdam, and Cape Town? Or shall we remain trapped in mediocrity, a cautionary tale of a nation that had all the ingredients for greatness but refused to act? The choice is ours, and it is obvious. Let us make the right choice. Let us do the right things. Let us build world-class cities worthy of our destiny.

Happy World Cities Day.

Onabanjo, an architect, environmentalist and urban policy advocate, is the founder of GO-FORTE FOUNDATION – an NGO for the restoration of the environment.