The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set a target of reducing youth unemployment and the number of out-of-school children by 50 per cent by 2031 as part of its proposed agenda for Nigeria’s next four years.
The party also plans to increase health insurance coverage to 40 per cent of the population, expand access to affordable credit and grow annual non-oil exports to at least $15 billion.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olajumoke Oduwole, disclosed the targets while presenting key policy proposals contained in the APC’s 2027–2031 presidential election manifesto at a media briefing in Abuja.
Oduwole, who serves as Deputy Director of the party’s Manifesto and Policy Committee, said the document was designed to move Nigeria from economic stabilisation and structural reforms towards inclusive growth, job creation and improved living standards.
The manifesto, themed “Translating Reforms to Shared Prosperity”, sets out measurable commitments intended to provide a basis for assessing the party’s performance if it secures another term in office.
According to the minister, the proposed agenda is built around eight priority areas: national security; economic growth and lower living costs; agriculture and food security; energy and infrastructure; industrialisation, trade and investment; education, health and social investment; digital and creative industries and sports; as well as effective and accountable governance.
APC targets 6% annual economic growth
Under its economic prosperity plan, the party is targeting annual economic growth of at least six per cent, alongside annual non-oil exports of at least $15 billion.
It also plans to create one million export-linked jobs for young Nigerians by 2031, establish at least one major industrial hub in each of the six geopolitical zones and increase manufacturing’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to at least 12 per cent.
The party believes these measures will strengthen local production, attract investment, expand Nigeria’s export capacity and create more employment opportunities.
Education and healthcare targets
On education, the APC plans to reduce the number of out-of-school children by half by 2031 and recruit and train an additional 20,000 teachers.
In healthcare, the manifesto sets a target of expanding active health insurance coverage to 40 per cent of Nigerians.
The party also intends to ensure that at least 90 per cent of primary healthcare centres across the country are functional, as part of efforts to improve access to essential medical services.
Credit access for 50% of economically active Nigerians
Oduwole further disclosed that the manifesto seeks to extend equitable access to credit to half of Nigeria’s economically active population.
The plan also prioritises improved economic opportunities for women, young people and vulnerable groups.
On energy and infrastructure, the party intends to strengthen electricity generation, transmission and distribution, expand clean energy access in underserved communities and improve transport networks linking farms, factories and markets.
Food security and national security
The manifesto also places emphasis on improving food security through increased domestic production, better storage and processing facilities, and reduced post-harvest losses.
The party says these interventions are expected to improve food availability and help make essential food items more affordable.
On national security, the proposed agenda includes stronger measures against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, alongside improvements in policing.
It also identifies alternative dispute resolution as a tool for addressing farmer-herder clashes and other community conflicts.
Oduwole calls for public scrutiny
Oduwole said the manifesto was developed with contributions from stakeholders across the country and was intended to reflect Nigerians’ expectations and aspirations.
She described the document as more than a statement of political intentions, stressing that its targets and performance indicators were designed to make the party’s commitments measurable and open to public scrutiny.
The minister said the broader objective was to ensure that economic reforms translated into practical improvements in people’s lives, including better-paying jobs, higher household incomes, affordable housing, accessible healthcare, quality education and reliable electricity.
She added that the next phase of the Renewed Hope Agenda would focus on ensuring that the gains expected from economic reforms were felt by households and businesses.
The 109-page manifesto covers the 2027–2031 period and is organised around four broad pillars and eight national priorities.
Oduwole urged the media to make the proposals accessible to Nigerians and help sustain public scrutiny of the party’s commitments.
