A serious determination to diversify electricity generation using off-grid sources like coal, solar, hydro, and other sustainable energy sources is very salient. Tinubu wants Nigeria to compete with Russia in gas production and supply. He plans to use technology to combat the theft of our raw materials like gas, oil and other natural resources.
Unfortunately, many Nigerians will not care to read this 80 page document due to one bias or another. I’ll however beg as many as are capable of reading it to study this unique document in our nation’s history. I’ll like to enlist below a few bullet points from the ideas that are capable of transforming the future of our dear nation contained in it. Before I go ahead, I’ll like to say that I’m not under any illusion to think that Tinubu or any other person is a messiah. He might not be a messiah but I believe if this document is implemented even at 50%, then Nigeria will be steadily placed on the path to greatness. Here are 10 bullet points from Tinubu’s Renewed Hope 2023, APC Action Plan Manifesto that I find very crucial.
I like the confidence that Asiwaju Tinubu exudes. It’s very clear that this document isn’t a copy-and-paste job, as most other political parties do. You can almost physically feel the burden and passion of the candidate as you read through his various proposed solutions.
The ideas on the solutions to national security are great: Having Anti-Terrorist Battalions, technological based panaceas to insecurity, revitalisation of the Ranger and Forest Guard Force, community policing, borders security through technology, disengagement of the Police from VIP security while empowering them to function better to the society etc. are all vital solutions.
Building an economy based on the youth, instead of on oil. Training the youth in Information Technology and digital economy, agriculture, entertainment, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, such that the GDP can average a 10% growth rate per year. He wants to give 20% of all political appointments to the youth under the age of 40. He wants to raise two million youth entrepreneurs who will volunteer to train other youths in business enterprises. In this same spirit, women are also promised a pivotal place.
I personally believe that the trump card of Tinubu’s economic transformation will be his bold fiscal and monetary policies. Another great economic mind in the person of ‘Tope Fasua, in his writings, has been writing and clamouring for a fiscal reform of the Nigerian economy for about a decade now. I’m sure Mr Fasua would appreciate this document. If you want to see into the mind of what Tinubu is capable of doing with the Nigerian economy, please read his book, Financialism: water from an empty well. Another strong point is his view on taxation, which he recorded good success with as governor of Lagos State, which then had one of the best tax policies in the country. Tinubu’s idea of introducing a mortgage system to ordinary citizens for the acquisition of cars, houses, and especially for student loans, will completely revolutionise our economy. He also plans to bring about a restructuring of the country’s revenue allocation between the federal and state governments.
The plan to increase cultivated land in Nigeria to 65% of the arable land mass from the present 35% could make Nigeria a global food hub.
A serious determination to diversify electricity generation using off-grid sources like coal, solar, hydro, and other sustainable energy sources is very salient. Tinubu wants Nigeria to compete with Russia in gas production and supply. He plans to use technology to combat the theft of our raw materials like gas, oil and other natural resources.
Tinubu wants to completely revolutionise the country’s transport system. I’m especially impressed by his plan to build metro trains in every state capital, which will be connected to rail lines across the nation. He wants to develop maritime inland waterways across the country, while especially making sure that ports are developed in the eastern and southern regions of our nation. These ideas alone, if implemented, could bring our citizens back home from the Western world. It could take our nation to the league of developed nations.
Tinubu wants to computerise every classroom in Nigerian schools and higher institutions, return history class to schools, retrain all teachers, develop new curriculum and accreditation standards that all schools will be required to follow. He would emphasise the creation of technical and vocational trainings centres for industrial, robotics, technological and entrepreneurial growth.
Tinubu wants to build a clinic within 30 minutes from people’s homes, and provide health insurance, especially to the most vulnerable. He wants to raise the money to implement this from taxes on tobacco, and alcoholic products. He even has a place for mental health patients and victims of drug addiction in his manifesto.
Tinubu is determined that Nigeria won’t miss out on the next industrial revolution, and wants to create at least one million ICT specialists within 24 months of coming to office, so these people will help to fast-track digital economic development in the country. He also wants to expand broadband spread to 90% of Nigerian internet services by 2025. He talks about the new terminologies of the tech world like: blockchains, crypto assets, digital currency, etc.
I have watched some criticisms coming from some Nigerian journalists on how Tinubu intends to do all these things. I wonder if they actually read the full document because this a complete departure from all other standard political manifestos. This particular document is full of “hows” instead of just promises. I personally see a bright future for Nigeria if what is written here is brought to life.
May Nigeria Succeed And May All Her Haters Live Long To Witness It.
Sunday Adelaja is a Nigeria born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Kiev, Ukraine.
