Leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has blamed poor government policies for Nigeria’s inability to translate its vast oil wealth into reliable electricity supply.

Speaking in an interview with The Spectator, Badenoch said her experience growing up in Nigeria helped shape her views on governance, energy policy and economic management.

According to her, Nigeria’s challenges demonstrate that the presence of natural resources does not automatically guarantee development if government policies are ineffective.

She noted that despite being a major oil-producing nation, Nigeria has struggled for decades with unstable electricity supply, which she attributed to poor policy decisions and government intervention.

Badenoch also criticised what she described as excessive state control of the economy, drawing comparisons between some current energy policies in the United Kingdom and approaches associated with Nigeria’s military governments in the 1980s and 1990s.

The British politician argued that policies focused on government control and redistribution often fail to deliver economic growth and can weaken a country’s finances.

She further stated that her upbringing in Nigeria influenced her political outlook, saying it made her determined to support policies that promote economic prosperity and prevent Britain from experiencing the challenges faced by many developing countries.

Badenoch added that many people take Britain’s wealth, institutions and history for granted, stressing the need to protect and strengthen the foundations of the country’s success.

Her comments have renewed debate over the role of governance and policy in ensuring that resource-rich nations benefit from their natural wealth.