President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday inaugurated the 2021-2025 National Development Plan (NDP) for the country.
The plan, which is a successor program to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), was launched and presented to the public at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by the President before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The plan will focus on massive infrastructure investment, ensure economic stability, enhance the investment environment, improve on social indicators and living conditions of Nigerians, among other.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said “the NDP 2021-2025 is designed as our medium – term Development Plan to succeed the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP 2017-2020) which ended in December 2020.”
“The ERGP 2017–2020 assisted the country to exit economic recession in 2017, and sustained modest growth until the recent global economic challenges occasioned by COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The current challenges are products of many years of inappropriate policies, fiscal leakages and global economic phenomena. This Administration is taking necessary actions that will fundamentally change the structure of the economy and how government businesses are conducted for efficiency and effectiveness,” she explained.
According to Ahmed, the plan will help Nigeria to achieve robust development in the Science and Technology Sectors.
“The President graciously granted approval to my Ministry in 2019 to develop a new national development plan to succeed both ERGP 2017-2020.
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“It is very important to note that the Plan is a pointer to the type of Nigeria we all desire and encourages the use of science, technology and innovation to drive growth,” she said.
The Finance Minister further disclosed that the NDP 2021-2025 will help Nigeria achieve its agendas at the continental and global levels.
She said: “I want to place on record that this Plan is sufficiently comprehensive with the capacity to accelerate the attainment of various regional and global Agendas, including the AU Agenda 2063, ECOWAS integration Agenda 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
“In order to have the future we all desire, the Plan is developed to play a sizable role in the product complexity space internationally and adopts measures to easing constraints that have hindered the economy from attaining its potentials, particularly, on the product mapping space.
“The Plan provides for the implementation of major infrastructure and other development projects across the six Geo-political Zones and the opening up of opportunities for the rural areas to ensure balanced development and increased competitiveness.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi, noted that the new NDP 2021-2025 was a product of collaboration and consultation between the federal and state governments.
Fayemi, who was represented by the Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, said the NDP 2021-2025 was aimed at principally ensuring that the gains have been consolidated and Nigerians are being continuously included.
In attendance to witness the launch was Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and Bagudu, who represented the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
Others present at the event included Ministers of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, Power Abubakar Aliyu, Justice, Abubakar Malami, Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo, as well as Ministers of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and Budget and National Planning, Mr Clement Agba.
