National Planning Minister, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman has said that Nigeria’s ambition of becoming one of the 20 most developed economies in the world by 2020 is unrealistic
Speaking to the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja during the ongoing review of ministers’ performance, Usman said the country must now aim to become one of the world’s top 25 by that time.
He expressed hope that by 2020, the country would have gained a place among the top 25, considering that when the vision started in 2009, the country was placed 44th.
“Where were we in 2009? We were number 44. By the end of 2011, we were number 39 by the end of 2012, we were 36.
“This is progress. We made quite a lot of progress. In other areas we are not. I don’t want any of you to meet me in 2020 and say you are the one telling us that we are going to be among the top 20.
“But what I am saying is that even if we are not among the 20 by that time, we were number 44 in 2009. If by 2020 we are number 25, I will be a very proud man. The reason is because we are consciously moving and doing all the necessary things to move up there.
“It’s not saying we must be there. What I am saying is if we get there then these are the actions we must need to take as a country. We must do this and that in governance, in human development, in infrastructure. That is what the document is saying and we are actually taking those steps and if we are, what progress are we making?”
Usman also lamented the state of the power sector and its impact on the economy, blaming it on decades of military rule. He, however, assured that the Federal Government would transform the electricity sector like it did the telecoms sector
