Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised to return Nigerian youths to farming and small-scale businesses if elected president in 2027.
Obi made the promise on Saturday in Kaduna during an NDC political gathering, where he and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, spoke about their plans for job creation and economic development.
He said his administration would focus on moving Nigeria from consumption to production while creating jobs and running an inclusive government anchored on unity and investment.
“If you elect us to serve, we will only borrow money for investment,” Obi said.
“We’re no longer going to borrow money for consumption. We want to move Nigeria from consumption to production. By that, we will create jobs.”
Comparing Nigeria with Indonesia, Obi said the Asian country is performing better despite having a larger population because more of its youths are employed.
“Our population is about 230 million. Indonesia is 280 million. But they are doing better than us because their youths are employed,” he said.
“We will help the youths to find something to do. We will make sure they go back to farm. We will make sure they go back to small businesses. We will support them and tell them the bad effects of drugs,” he said.
Obi also expressed concern over drug prevalence in Nigeria, saying the country lacks adequate laws against drug importation.
He promised that his administration would impose life imprisonment on drug dealers if elected.
“Nigeria does not have adequate laws for those who are importing drugs,” he said.
“If I become president, drugs will fetch life sentence. If you deal in drugs that will k+ll our youths and everything, you are going to face life imprisonment. We cannot take it.”
He added that Nigeria’s estimated drug prevalence of 14 percent was unacceptable, attributing it partly to youth unemployment.
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