President Buhari Inaugurates Committee For Nigeria Vision 2050

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, 9th September, 2020 inaugurated a committee to steer a 2050 development agenda for Nigeria.

According to the presidency statement on the development, the Nigeria Agenda 2050 and Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) will succeed Vision 20:2020 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 – 2020.

“President @MBuhari today in Abuja inaugurated a 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,” Bashir Ahmad, Buhari’s personal assistant on new media noted in a tweet on Wednesday evening.

President @MBuhari today in Abuja inaugurated a 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. pic.twitter.com/WOgsttq2MF

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) September 9, 2020

The National Steering Committee for the development of Successor Plans to Vision 20:2020 and ERGP will be jointly chaired by Mr Atedo Peterside and the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Dr (Mrs) Zainab Ahmed.

The membership of the committee includes representatives of one State governor from each of the six geopolitical zones, the Senate and House of Representatives, ministers and representatives of key agencies.

Other members of the National Steering Committee are major political parties, ALGON, captains of industries, Labour Organizations, youth organizations and women’s societies, farmers’ associations, traditional and religious leaders, people with special needs and members of the press.

The President noted that if carefully implemented, the plan can lift over 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.

Speaking at the inauguration, at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Buhari explained that the mandate of the committee includes recommending measures to ensure the continuous implementation of the Plans even after the expiration of the tenure of successive Administrations – including legislation, if required.

He said, “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.”

This the President was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

Buhari further said: “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 institutionalize planned outcomes for the future. I trust that our partners in the National Assembly will support us in exploring these reforms.”

He explained that Nigeria can follow the example already shown by China as it lifted over 700 million of its population out of poverty over the last four decades.

He said, “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.”

President Buhari also explained that the plan is for the vision to outlive any administration that comes into power within the period when its is operational.

He said, “The ERGP shared this vision, which ensured that the country exited recession in 2017 and sustained growth in Gross Domestic Product until the recent global economic challenges occasioned by COVID-19.

“Over the decades, successive planning and visioning exercises have guided investment in human capital development, the implementation of our infrastructural roadmap, and supported social investment in our people’s lives and livelihoods.”

“At the heart of the Successor Plans is the partnership between the public and private sectors, with Government as the enabler of private sector investment and industry.”

In their remarks, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Ahmed as well as the co-chair of the committee, Mr. Peterside noted that the plans must be well executed and the people must be well carried along in the planning and execution of programmes.

They promised to justify the confidence reposed in them by the president.