FG Seeks Multi-Sector Collaboration to Drive New National Development Plan
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has called for an expansive partnership involving Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, and the private sector to realize the objectives of the nation’s economic roadmap.
The Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, made this appeal while receiving a delegation from the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in Abuja.
According to a statement released by the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Juli Osagie-Jacobs, the visit focused on aligning national strategies with continental growth benchmarks.
During the meeting, Dr. Uzoka-Anite pointed to the necessity of sustained partnership, policy alignment, and knowledge-sharing as the primary engines of Nigeria’s development agenda.
She noted that the government is currently working on a new National Development Plan to succeed the previous 2020–2050 framework, stating that the successor plan will place a premium on measurable outcomes and accelerated economic expansion.
“Achieving a modern and resilient economy requires strong alignment between planning, implementation, and monitoring systems,” the Minister said. She remarked that inclusive development, institutional reforms, and active private-sector involvement are essential components of this vision.
She further stated that working across agencies and with international partners remains critical to meeting both national and global development targets.
The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD, Mr. Jibrin Salisu Abdullahi, expressed his support for the Ministry’s leadership and pledged the agency’s continued backing of Nigeria’s national efforts. He stated that evidence-based planning and the integration of continental frameworks are vital to improving outcomes in job creation and living standards.
“There is a need for aligning development targets with national budgeting processes and leveraging monitoring and evaluation systems to improve accountability and performance,” Abdullahi said. He assured the Ministry that AUDA-NEPAD is ready to provide the technical support and capacity building necessary to ensure Nigeria performs strongly within continental benchmarks.
Welcoming the delegation, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Deborah Odoh, noted that the Ministry remains the central hub for coordinating government policies with national priorities. She explained that the Ministry is focused on ensuring these policies harmonize with broader frameworks like the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Odoh identified infrastructure, agriculture, governance, and human capital development as the primary sectors of focus for the government. She expressed optimism regarding the successful rollout of the forthcoming National Development Plan (2026–2030), stating that the Ministry is dedicated to deepening the partnerships required to advance Nigeria’s long-term objectives.
