President Muhammadu Buhari has formally unveiled the National Development Plan 2021-2025.
Making the public presentation on Wednesday before the Federal Executive Council meeting, the President was assisted by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State as well as Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.
In an introductory speech before the unveiling, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed said the document will immediately replace the Economic Recovery and Growth Programme.
“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,” she said.
The minister added: “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.
"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.”
According to the Finance Minister, government projects that the New National Development Plan2021-2025 will aid the attainment of a robust growth in the Science and Technology sectors, as well as help achieve Nigeria's continental and global agenda.
“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,” Zainab said.
“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,” the Finance Minister stated.
