Minister Counsellor and Head of Co-operation of European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria & ECOWAS, Mr Kurt Cornelis; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba; and, Director of International Co-operation in the Ministry, Mrs Elizabeth Egharevba, during an audience on EU’s development partnership with Nigeria in the minister’s office in Abuja.
Highlight

We’ll take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in next 10 years- FG

320

 

 

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, has assured the European Union (EU) of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government’s commitment to the agenda of taking 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next ten years.

Agba, who spoke at an audience in his office in Abuja with a team of the EU, led by Minister Counsellor and Head of Co-operation of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Kurt Cornelis, said one of the major thrusts of the administration’s priorities, in its second term, was “the strategic and incremental liberation, over time, of that number of Nigerians caught in the poverty trap.”

Responding to comments by Cornelis on the imperative of robust development partnerships in the context of the administration’s priorities and how the EU could work to align them with the provisions of its funds for the 2021-2027 budgetary cycle, Agba said the priorities remained the same as those articulated by the President during his 2015 electioneering and in his first term.

According to him, “The priorities remain the same.  When the President campaigned for his first term in office, there were three major areas of focus. One was to grow the economy; the other was to enhance security; and, the third was the fight against corruption. These still remain the broad focus of government.

“So within these, there are other priority areas of focus. One of the major thrusts of all of these is how we would be able to take about 100 million people out of poverty in the next ten years. Therefore, it means that in whatever we do, it should be something of scale that should be able to create employments, not employments for hundreds but we are talking of employments for millions of people.

“That, certainly, will be able to generate activities in the economy and help to grow our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  So those are the areas of focus for us in the next four years.”

Agba said the Buhari administration remained committed to the achievement of solid infrastructure development and economic growth, pointing out that a clear demonstration of that commitment was the launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which was functional in the exit of Nigeria from recession in 2017.

Announcing that the ERGP would come to an end by December 2020, the same time that the Vision 2020 would end, the Minister said necessary machinery had been set in motion to start the next successor plan.

“We are looking forward to starting the next successor plan, which we think should be from 2021 to 2050.  So, whatever support that is that we can get from the EU, may be technological support, how we can deploy technology in driving the process, would be very much welcome. For me, it is not just the issue of money, but the issue of expertise,” he stated.

The EU team leader had, among other agendas, said that the United Nations and the EU were working on an initiative that would be launched next month at the United Nations General Assembly, called Integrated National Financial Framework (INFF) to bolster the funding of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to him, “Part of that (initiative) is to make an assessment of development financing in countries, and Nigeria has been pre-selected as a possible pilot country; and, the UN is reaching out to the President’s office and to the Minister of Finance to ensure that Nigeria is keen and is accepting to be a pilot country in this exercise.

“For the EU, it is something that we very much support.  I am sure that the UN Resident Coordinator is going to have meetings too with His Excellency and Minister of Finance; and, hopefully, they can come to a great agreement.”

Cornelis, however, said that a big challenge to the EU for next year was the new budgetary cycle that would cover the years 2021 to 2027 and how to ensure that development partnership proposals would be in tandem with Nigeria’s policies and strategies.

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Horror as loverboy lures girl to his house, slaughters her for money rituals in Ogun

A young man and suspected ritualist, who specializes in luring beautiful girls...

Death toll climbs to 22 in Anambra palliative distribution tragedy

Death toll from the devastating stampede incident in Okija in the Ihiala...

Updated: Stampede at Anambra rice giveaway leaves 12 dead, 32 injured

At least, 12 people lost their lives and 32 others were injured...

Ogun Information Ministry Vows to Intensify Mobilisation Efforts, Justifies N2bln 2025 Budget Proposal

The Ogun State Ministry of Information has assured the public of its...

No Shutdown: NNPC Ltd. Denies Report on Old Port Harcourt Refinery

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed reports that...

Court Slaps MTN with N15m fine for disturbing customer me with unsolicited messages, caller tunes

In a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has slapped...

Bitter rivalry between Pasuma and Taye Currency shows no signs of abating

…There was no reason for Taye to be at Pasuma’s 40 years...

Update: Ekiti court grants Dele Farotimi N30m bail

Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun of an Ado Ekiti Magistrate’s Court has granted human...

Just in: Imprisoned Dele Farotimi appears in Ekiti Court amid tight security for ruling on bail application

Dele Farotimi, a prominent Human Rights lawyer and activist, arrived at the...

Just in: Imprisoned Dele Farotimi appears in Ekiti Court amid tight security for ruling on bail application

Dele Farotimi, a prominent Human Rights lawyer and activist, arrived at the...

Just in: National Sports Festival now to hold May 16- 30, 2025 – NSC

Following the postponement of the National Sports Festival, tagged “Gateway Games, Ogun...

Domestic Crude Oil Sale Initiative: Tinubu’s Strategic Move Pays Off

President Bola Tinubu’s directive to sell crude oil and refined products in...

Saudi Arabia Eyes Hosting 2036 Olympics, Gains Backing from IOC Presidential Hopeful

Saudi Arabia is throwing its hat into the ring to host the...

Reps’ Pledge N704.91m for Vulnerable Nigerians, Presentation Set for Dec 31

The House of Representatives is set to present a significant donation of...

Alleged N110bln money laundering charge: Court admits Yahaya Bello to another N500m bail

Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, has been granted...

Port Harcourt Refinery Rehabilitation a “Masterstroke,” Says Former NNPC Boss

In spite of the criticism and cynicism trailing the feat, former chief...

Updated: 32 feared dead in Ibadan funfair tragedy: Ooni’s ex-wife, others arrested

At least, 32 children were feared killed during a stampede at a...

Rugby: Tunisia Triumphs Over Nigeria with 34-10 Win in Africa Cup Qualifiers

The Nigerian senior men’s national rugby team, the Stallions, suffered a 34-10...

SanDisk Teases Forthcoming Launch of Next-Generation Storage Device

Sandisk previews new corporate branding defined by a ‘Mindset of Motion’ Creative...

2025 FG’s budget: Full text of President Bola Tinubu

My Fellow Nigerians, 1. In fulfilment of one of my constitutional duties...