Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has promised to double Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to $900 Billion by 2025.
Atiku, who unveiled his policy document today, Tuesday, ahead of 2019 polls said that he will be proactive in attracting investments and supporting the 50 million Small and Medium Scale Enterprises across Nigeria “for the purpose of doubling the size of GDP to 900 Billion Dollars by 2025.”
He said that such investments will create a minimum of 2. 5 million jobs annually and lift at least 50 million people from poverty in the first two years.
“My team and I will also help create jobs by innovating flagship programmes such as the National Open Apprenticeship programme through which we shall enhance the capacity of mater-craftsmen and women to train one million new apprentices every year.
“Our national innovation Fund and SME venture capital Fund initiatives will provide stable and sustainable long-term support to aspiring entrepreneurs.
“My plan to restructure Nigeria will lead to a vast increase in the Internally Generated Revenue, both for the Federal Government and States via the matching grants that we will provide to State Governments that increase their own revenue.
“Let me be clear; no State will received less funding than they get today – in fact, all will receive more and the harder a state works the more they will get.”
Atiku asked Nigerians to be the part of owner of his policies, assuring that they have opportunity to provide feedback.
“I will give opportunity for anyone in Nigeria to have their say on National television. These are not just Atiku Abubakar’s plans; these will be our plans, yours and mine.”
The PDP recalled that he started in life as an orphan selling fire wood on the streets of Jada in Adamawa State, but that that God, through the Nigerian State, he invested in him leading to his success in life, adding: “if Nigeria worked on me, i owe it as my to make sure that Nigeria also works for you, your family and your friends.
“It is time to get Nigeria working gain, and these are the plans and policies i have for achieving that. I appeal to you to join me on this journey towards a better life for all Nigerians.”
