Peter Obi has promised to make youth employment a key focus of his administration if elected president in 2027, saying young Nigerians would be supported to take up farming and small businesses.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate made the promise on Saturday in Kaduna while speaking to supporters at a political gathering with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Obi, a former Anambra governor, said his government would work to move Nigeria from heavy reliance on consumption to production.
“If you elect us to serve, we will only borrow money for investment,” Obi said.
“We’re no longer going to borrow money for consumption. We want to move Nigeria from consumption to production. By that, we will create jobs.”
He said giving young people productive work would help tackle unemployment and other social problems.
Comparing Nigeria with Indonesia, Obi said the Asian country has a larger population but is doing better because more of its youths are employed.
“Our population is about 230 million. Indonesia is 280 million. But they are doing better than us because their youths are employed,” he said.
“We will help the youths to find something to do. We will make sure they go back to farm,” he said.
“We will make sure they go back to small businesses. We will support them and tell them the bad effects of drugs.”
Obi also blamed youth unemployment for the spread of drug use and called for tougher punishment.
“Nigeria does not have adequate laws for those who are importing drugs,” he said.
“If I become president, drugs will fetch life sentence. If you deal in drugs that will kill our youths and everything, you are going to face life imprisonment. We cannot take it.”
“While the global drug prevalence is about 5 percent, Nigeria is 14 percent. It’s not acceptable. And it’s because of the unemployment of the youths,” he said.
