President Muhammadu Buhari has come out to say that his new development plan will lift about 100M Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

He recently revealed that the National Steering Committee set up 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 will be jointly chaired by Mr. Atedo Peterside and Dr (Mrs) Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

According to him, the main purpose of these Successor Plans are to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years, especially after the World Bank’s projection that Nigeria will become the world’s third most populous country by 2050 with over 400 million people.

He added that the present global health and economic crises has given Nigeria an opportunity to think afresh and chart an optimal path forward.

His words, “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.”

”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.”

”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.”