Although we have failed to achieve Vision 2020 nothing stops us relaunching the programme as Vision 2030

By Ayo Akinfe

(1) Originally launched by the regime of General Sani Abacha, Vision 2020 was a great concept. It sought to make Nigeria one of the 20 largest economies in the world, able to consolidate its leadership role in Africa and establish itself as a significant player in the global economic and political arena

(2) Let us take stock of where we are today. According to the World Bank, we are number 27 with a GDP that varies between $375bn and $450bn depending on global oil prices

(3) We actually achieved number 22 on the global economic chart during the Jonathan era when oil prices hit $140 a barrel and we were producing 2.7m barrels a day

(4) We are the world’s sixth largest agricultural producer

(5) Literacy stands at around 60% compared with say 5% post-independence

(6) We have 153 universities compared with just the one at independence, my alma mata, the great UI

(7) We are now the world’s number one producer of cashews, egusi, yam, cassava, sheanuts, kolanuts, cocoyam and bitter leaf

(8) We failed to realise Vision 2020 because we simply did not diversify our economy. We remain a mono-economy dependent on crude oil and add very little value to the primary products we export

(9) As 2020 is set to roll in, we simply have to make value-addition, manufacturing, diversification and exports our watchwords. We do not produce enough, we consume what we do not produce and end up having to borrow to meet our needs

(10) My question is are Nigerians ready for the harsh medicine that will make Vision 2030 a reality? It will mean banning the import of luxury items to force local production, imposing production quotas on industries, prosecuting traditional rulers if kids in their domains do not go to school, taxing faith houses, reducing owambes and putting that energy to productive use, maybe getting alumni associations to take over some aspects of education, giving Gucci an ultimatum to open a factory in Nigeria or be declared an enemy of the people, giving our elite and bourgeoisie investment quotas ad Julius Caesar did in Ancient Rome and forcing states governors to meet export targets or they face statutory impeachment. Are we ready for this?