The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), alongside political economists and development specialists, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for proposing the 2026–2030 National Development Plan (NDP), describing it as a decisive shift from years of policy discontinuity.
The endorsement came during a one-day high-level policy dialogue in Abuja titled “The National Development Plan (2026–2030): Strategic Imperatives for Economic Transformation and Poverty Alleviation,” organised by Centre LSD.
President Tinubu had earlier, on February 10, 2026, unveiled the five-year “Renewed Hope Plan,” aimed at building a $1 trillion economy through diversification and private sector-led growth.
The NDP is anchored on five key pillars: economic diversification to reduce dependence on oil; human capital development through investments in health and education; subnational competitiveness by empowering states to harness their comparative advantages; private sector-driven expansion; and climate resilience through sustainable infrastructure.
In his keynote address, political economist Dr. Izozo Izu described the initiative as a welcome departure from development frameworks that were abandoned by previous administrations.
However, he cautioned that success would depend on avoiding longstanding pitfalls such as policy inconsistency, corruption, weak implementation, financial constraints, and ineffective public-private partnerships.
Izu stressed that disciplined execution and prioritisation of critical instruments would determine the plan’s impact.
He identified the need for a credible national population and housing census, improved security across the country, and sustained stabilisation of communities previously affected by terrorism and banditry.
He also advocated for robust governance structures, including a national steering committee and technical working groups, with annual budgets aligned to the NDP.
Transparency and accountability, he noted, must underpin implementation.
To strengthen private sector participation and attract foreign direct investment toward the $1 trillion target by 2030, Izu proposed an investment framework prioritising infrastructure, agriculture, and energy reforms, including a proposed $2.6 billion electricity sector overhaul.
On subnational roles, he advised states to leverage their comparative advantages while maintaining fiscal discipline, managing debt prudently, and implementing tax reforms to boost revenue.
He further urged the government to consolidate on the 3.9 per cent GDP growth recorded in the third quarter of 2025 by addressing structural weaknesses in earlier development strategies.
Earlier, Centre LSD Executive Director Monday Osasah, represented by Board Secretary Ernest Kemakolam, described the 2026–2030 NDP as an opportunity to redefine Nigeria’s development trajectory.
He said the policy dialogue was designed to interrogate the assumptions, priorities, and implementation mechanisms of the plan while contributing to agenda-setting and national transformation.
“Nigeria has the resources.
Nigeria has the people. Nigeria has the potential. What is required now is strategic leadership, effective institutions, and collective commitment,” he stated.
Participants agreed that while the plan signals renewed ambition, its ultimate success will depend on consistent policy direction, institutional strength, and sustained stakeholder collaboration.