My new plan will lift 100m Nigerians out of poverty by 2030, Buhari boasts
President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that he is perfecting a new development plan that will lift about one hundred million, (100m) Nigerians out of poverty by the year 2030.
President Buhari stated this while inaugurating the National Steering Committee to oversee the development of the Nigeria Agenda 2050 and Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) to succeed Vision 20:2020 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 – 2020. He said the committee will be jointly chaired by Mr. Atedo Peterside and Dr (Mrs) Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
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”The main objectives of these Successor Plans are to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years, particularly given the World Bank’s projection that Nigeria will become the world’s third most populous country by 2050 with over 400 million people” he said.
The president said succession plan would be critical achieving Nigeria’s long term vision.
Also speaking on the National Steering Committee, President Buhari said it would oversee governance structure comprising the Central Working Group and 26 Technical Working Groups for the important national assignment.
”It is my expectation that the Steering Committee will oversee the execution of key deliverables, including recommending measures to ensure the continuous implementation of the Plans even after the expiration of the tenure of successive Administrations – including legislation, if required.
”Such legislation may introduce much-needed rigour and discipline to the nation’s development planning as well as institutionalise planned outcomes for the future. I trust that our partners in the National Assembly will support us in exploring these reforms, ” he said
President Buhari charged the National Steering Committee not to lose sight of the important role Nigeria plays within the continent and the global community at large.
He said the Succession plan should be geared towards sustainable national development, as well as support regional and global strategic interests, as outlined in the African Union Agenda 2063, the ECOWAS Integration Agenda 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
He emphasized the importance of national development planning, citing the Chinese as an apt example.
”The Chinese experience is an example. It has resulted in lifting over 700 million people out of poverty over the last four decades.
”Indeed, China’s track record of positive economic growth, since 1992, was only halted in the first quarter of 2020, due to onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
”COVID-19 presents the world – and Nigeria – with a crisis as well as an opportunity. The current global health and economic crises give us an opportunity to think afresh and chart an optimal path forward, ” he said.
The president also said Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 was a design of the long-term plan to hoist Nigeria onto a path of sustainable socio-economic development.
