Nigeria’s drive toward a $1 trillion economy gained momentum as key stakeholders convened to finalize the National Development Plan (NDP) 2026–2030, a medium-term roadmap aligned with the long-term objectives of Nigeria Agenda 2050.
Speaking at the review meeting, Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, stated that the draft document is structured to deliver a coherent, evidence-based, and implementation-ready strategy to guide the nation’s social and economic transformation over the next five years.
Uzoka-Anite emphasized that the successor plan must surpass its predecessor, the NDP 2021–2025, by establishing credible baselines, realistic projections, clearly defined interventions, robust financing mechanisms, and measurable performance indicators.
Acknowledging the current macroeconomic environment, the minister urged planners to directly address the structural bottlenecks hampering sustainable growth.
“Despite the daunting economic and social challenges the country faces, the NDP 2026–2030 must identify and unlock the binding constraints to economic growth and development,” Uzoka-Anite said.
The NDP 2026-2030 is developed around seven growth pillars, including: Macro-economic stability, resource mobilization and sustainability financing, Oil, Gas and Energy Security, Economic diversification, productivity and competitiveness, Productive infrastructure and environmental resilience.
Other include: Effective Governance, institutions and public- sector transformation, Peace, security and national resilience and Human capital, social development and inclusive growth.
The minister charged stakeholders to employ the Renewed Hope Ward-Based Development Framework Survey conducted by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning across the 8809 wards to tackle grassroots economic realities, infrastructure deficit and local development priorities.
She also inaugurated the Technical Working Group (TWG) to review the draft NDP (2026-2030) with the terms of reference which include; to test the alignment of the vision, strategic objectives, seven pillars, sector objectives, policy direction and interventions with Nigeria Agenda 2050, the Renewed Hope and the ambition of the diversified, inclusive and resilient US $1 trillion economy by 2030.
They are also expected to review baselines, indicators, assumptions and proposed targets, determine or recommend realistic but ambitious 2030 targets; and document the rationale for material adjustments.
In her welcome remarks, Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, reiterated that participants were tasked to produce a coherent, credible and implementation-ready Plan which is expected to align with Nigeria’s Agenda 2050 and national development priorities in addition to organizing them consistently across its seven strategic pillars.
She emphasized that the team is expected to resolve gaps duplication and inconsistencies across chapters, validate key data macroeconomic assumptions, sectoral targets and results indicators as well as strengthen the links between priorities, interventions, financing, institutional responsibilities and monitoring arrangements.
Odoh said that the final document must provide a practical basis for the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, Annual Budgets and sectoral investment decisions.
