Agenda 2050 and Poor Policy Implementation in Nigeria

One of Nigeria's major problems is policy implementation. And it tells us on the face wherever we go.

Over the years, many laudable policies have been enunciated by successive governments, but the ugly paradox remains that only a few of them have been implemented. Even the few successful ones haven't been implemented to the hilt, in fact.

It only shows how irresponsible governments in Nigeria can be when they formulate policies without following through. Of recent, the Petroleum Industry Act, Nigeria Energy Transition Plan, National Autogas Initiative, etc have been merely announced but they remain, as we speak, largely unattended to yet the government keeps bringing up new ones.

Today, all over the country we are talking about the Nigeria Agenda 2050; a decade-long national economic policy plan which is aimed at significantly improving per capita income, increasing real GDP growth by 7 per cent, creating 165 million new jobs and reducing the number of people living in poverty to 2.1 million in 2050, from the 83 million people estimated in 2020. The policy is an overarching goal to take Nigeria through to an Upper Middle-Income Country and subsequently to the status of a High-Income country by 2050.

But you don't jump your first pair of skis and expect to be an Olympic medalist. It takes time and some effort too.

Although introducing a lofty policy plan like this one can take a huge amount of effort and some time, if not years, to put up. The task of implementing is not beans and can be herculean. But then let's not waiver at it - the intent must meet its original purpose. 

An effective policy should have a plan and guidelines by which to achieve it. Generally, it should be able to define where the country is headed, have a guideline which decides how to get there, track progress made, be able to adjust where need be, and keep moving until the desired result is achieved.

Until policies are implemented, the development of our nation remains unattainable. We can't continue doing this and expect the country to move forward. Mba!

Hope the government does the right thing this time around.

Thanks for reading and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.