The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said Nigeria must urgently move away from a consumption-driven economy and embrace production as the foundation for sustainable economic growth and improved living standards.
Obi said no country could import its way to prosperity, stressing that Nigeria must produce more of what it consumes, process its raw materials locally and build industries capable of competing in global markets.
The former Anambra State governor made the remarks on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra State, while addressing journalists at a press conference on the key issues he plans to take to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued by his media office spokesman, Idris Zekeri, Obi said his campaign would go beyond seeking votes, describing it as an opportunity to engage Nigerians in a national conversation on rebuilding the country and improving the quality of life of its citizens.
According to him, although he and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences, they share a common objective of improving the living conditions of Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
“Our experiences differ, but our conclusion is clear: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage its public resources responsibly,” Obi said.
He said the performance of any government should ultimately be measured by whether Nigerians are better off, whether families can afford food, education and healthcare, whether businesses can expand and create jobs, and whether farmers can produce safely and move their goods to markets.
Obi urged Nigerians to demand direct answers from political leaders rather than relying on statements made through proxies or surrogates.
He said the 2027 election presented citizens with an opportunity to critically examine the records, ideas and programmes of all presidential candidates, particularly at a time when the country is facing significant economic, security and social challenges.
“I enter this contest with one firm belief: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work,” he said.
Obi also highlighted the scale of poverty, humanitarian challenges, insecurity and unemployment confronting the country. Citing figures attributed to the International Monetary Fund, he said more than 140 million Nigerians were living at or below the national poverty line, while humanitarian agencies estimated that about 35 million people would require food assistance during the 2026 lean season.
He added that millions of Nigerians remained internally displaced as a result of conflict and insecurity, while the growing number of young people entering the labour market each year continued to face limited opportunities for meaningful employment.
On his proposed shift from consumption to production, Obi said Nigeria’s large population, domestic market and labour force should be treated as economic assets rather than burdens.
“Nigeria cannot import its way to prosperity. We will produce more of what we consume, process more of what we produce, and compete more effectively in global markets,” he said.
He said his administration would seek to transform Nigeria’s population into productive human capital, develop natural resources into value-added industries and turn the domestic market into an engine for investment, enterprise and job creation.
According to him, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, the creative economy and services would all have important roles in driving the proposed economic transformation.
On insecurity, Obi said the crisis had displaced millions of Nigerians and disrupted agriculture, education, trade and investment.
He advocated a comprehensive security strategy involving improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies, stronger policing and border management, and greater deployment of technology.
He also addressed healthcare, unemployment and the state of Nigeria’s democracy, urging voters to closely scrutinise the records and programmes of those seeking their mandate.
Obi further challenged presidential candidates to engage directly with Nigerians across the country, arguing that leaders seeking the presidency must be willing to travel, listen to citizens and answer their questions.
“Any presidential candidate who lacks the resolve to travel across the country, meet the people, and respond to their questions lacks the capacity to govern it,” he said.