Peter Obi has outlined a broad set of plans for Nigeria at a Nigeria Democratic Congress town hall in Kaduna, speaking on jobs, agriculture, borrowing, drug trafficking, insecurity, electricity, corruption, education and the cost of living.
Obi attended the September 19 meeting with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as the NDC continued its town hall engagements with Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Participants were given the opportunity to question the candidates about major problems facing the country.
Obi promises production instead of consumption
One of Obi’s central messages was his proposal to move Nigeria away from what he described as a consumption economy towards production.
He said an administration led by him and Kwankwaso would borrow money only for investment and would not borrow simply to fund consumption.
Obi said the purpose of the approach would be to create jobs and strengthen productive activity across the country.
He used Indonesia as a comparison, saying Nigeria has about 230 million people while Indonesia has about 280 million, but argued that Indonesia is performing better partly because more of its young people are employed.
He said his administration would focus on creating opportunities that allow young Nigerians to earn a living rather than leaving them without work.
Youths to return to farming and small businesses
Obi said his administration would support young Nigerians to return to agriculture and small businesses.
He said government would help young people find productive work, support those entering farming and assist those interested in small businesses.
He also connected unemployment with the country’s drug problem, saying young people need productive opportunities and education about the dangers of drugs.
His broader argument was that employment and production should be used to address both economic hardship and some of the social problems affecting young Nigerians.
Life imprisonment for drug traffickers
Obi also promised a much tougher response to drug trafficking.
He said Nigeria does not have adequate laws for people importing drugs and proposed life imprisonment for people involved in bringing drugs into the country.
He said the measure would particularly target drugs that harm young Nigerians.
Obi also cited figures during the meeting which he said put drug prevalence at about 14 percent in Nigeria compared with about 5 percent globally. He linked what he described as the high level of drug use partly to youth unemployment.
The proposed punishment is a campaign policy and would require the necessary legal changes before it could become an enforceable new penalty.
Security and the return of displaced Nigerians
Security was another major issue at the Kaduna meeting.
Obi said his proposed government would take action against insecurity and work towards creating conditions that would allow Nigerians displaced by violence to return safely to their homes, communities and farms.
Questions from participants also focused on insecurity affecting opposition political activities and reports of attacks involving supporters.
Another question raised concerns about allegations that young Nigerians can be arrested over social media comments while people responsible for kidnapping and other serious crimes remain difficult to apprehend.
Obi referred to Kwankwaso’s experience in security matters and said an Obi and Kwankwaso administration would take appropriate measures to confront insecurity.
Lower energy costs
Obi and Kwankwaso also presented lower energy costs as part of their proposed economic programme.
Obi said they wanted to reduce the cost of energy so that ordinary Nigerians and small businesses could benefit.
He linked affordable and reliable energy to economic activity and the ability of businesses to survive and create employment.
Food prices and cost of living
Obi also said the proposed NDC administration would work to reduce food prices.
He said the government would focus on policies that directly address the economic pressures facing ordinary households instead of making promises that cannot be fulfilled.
He described the proposed approach as practical and focused on improving people’s daily lives.
Education and healthcare
Obi said his administration would place investment in education and healthcare among its priorities.
He said the government would pursue an inclusive approach centred on national unity, poverty reduction and investment in sectors that directly affect Nigerians.
He also said the goal would be to create opportunities for citizens rather than leave people trapped in poverty and unemployment.
Before the town hall, Obi visited the Sheikh Muhammad Sambo Memorial Islamic Institute in Rigachikun, Kaduna. His campaign later highlighted education as part of the wider Kaduna engagement.
Corruption and EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission also came up during questions at the meeting.
Obi said an administration led by him would review the EFCC’s operational system.
He stressed the importance of due process and the rule of law and said the fight against corruption should not become a matter of targeting individuals.
Fuel subsidy and the cost of fuel
Obi also addressed the burden created by fuel costs.
In his account of the Kaduna engagement, he said the meeting discussed corruption and what he described as inefficiencies connected with the fuel subsidy regime.
He said the government needs to reduce the burden of fuel costs on Nigerians while creating an economy capable of allowing citizens to live decent and dignified lives.
Obi promises to spend holidays in Nigeria
Obi made another personal commitment during the Kaduna visit.
He said that if elected president, he would spend his annual holidays in Nigeria rather than abroad.
He argued that a president should remain close to Nigerians and use such periods to visit different parts of the country, particularly communities facing insecurity and other serious challenges.
Message to other politicians
Obi also challenged other political candidates to engage directly with Nigerians.
He warned against unrealistic campaign promises and called for campaigns to be driven by the actual needs and demands of citizens.
He said political leaders should leave their comfort zones, meet people directly and listen to their concerns.
He described people centred governance as an important part of democracy.
Obi and Kwankwaso say they are ready
At the Kaduna meeting, Obi and Kwankwaso presented themselves as prepared to contest the 2027 election and said they would govern differently from previous administrations.
Obi said their priorities would include lowering energy costs, reducing food prices, tackling insecurity, creating jobs and addressing other problems affecting ordinary Nigerians.
The Kaduna town hall was therefore used by the NDC ticket to present its economic and social plans while allowing participants to question the candidates directly.
Obi’s major message was that Nigeria needs to move from consumption to production, create productive opportunities for its young population and focus government spending on investment.
His proposals on drug trafficking, borrowing, energy, agriculture, security and other areas remain campaign commitments and would require specific policies, legislation and implementation measures if his proposed administration were to pursue them after the 2027 election.
