Opinion
Vision 20: 2020: Between Faith And Work
When the Vision 20: 2020 project was inaugurated with so much enthusiasm at the inception of this administration, many Nigerians thought that by now the various sectors of the economy would have gathered remarkable steam to propel the country towards joining the enviable club of mega economies. But until recently when President Goodluck Jonathan unveiled the first medium term implementation plan of the project, the vision had become as dead as faith without works.
Even the formal lunching of the project document last week, several years after its conception, has cast some doubt on the commitment of government to realize the tall dream.
The Minister of National Planning and Vice Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsudden Usman whose responsibility it is to facilitate the implementation of the plan explains that the project would be driven by Public Private Partnership (PPP). According to him, the vision which is designed to be implemented through three medium term development plans covering 2010 – 2013, 2013-2016, and 2017-2010 periods will gulp about N32 trillion. And to raise this amount, it is projected that the federal government, the states and local governments, and the private sector would provide N10 trillion, N9 trillion, and N13 trillion respectively.
Yes, our dream to join the group of top 20 economies at 2020 can help the nation assembly its destiny from an array of possibilities to form a desirable and great future for its people. But for a dream to be most effective, it should be vivid in consciousness, definite, steady, and sustainable.
Therefore, in practical terms, what does it mean for Nigeria to become one of the 20 largest economies by the year 2020? It means that by 2020, we expect Nigeria to be like at least Turkey, Sweden, Belguim, Switzerland, and Russia. And we hope that, perhaps, the Nigerian economy will come close to those of Canada, Spain, France, and united Kingdom. Better still, it means that by 2020, the good life that attracts Nigerians to Germany, Japan, and the United States of America can also be found in the country.
This is to say that by 2020, the income of Nigerians will rise to levels where basic food, shelter, and clothing will no longer be the main consumption objectives of the labour force. Rather, automobiles, TV Sets, refrigerators, and so on will become the items that will catch the interest of consumers. It means that by 2020, the country’s production function shall have been developed to the stage where it produces not necessarily everything but anything that it chooses to produce. It means that by 2020 Nigeria shall be seen as being aggressive in the world politics.
As indicated in Tony Manuaka’s report on Why Vision 2020 Is A Mirage; published in the Broad Street Journal Edition of May 12, 2008: “To be in the top 20 bracket, the size of the economy is expectd to be in the region of $800 billion and $900 billion. The average growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to be between 13 per cent and 15 per cent. In the education sector, the country is expected to have achieved 100 per cent in primary school enrolment… In the health sector, life expectancy in the country is expected to increase from 47 years to 70 years with remarkable improvement in infant and maternal mortality.”
In all, by 2020 Nigeria shall have established a welfare state and adopted a high mass consumption pattern.
The task is challenging, if not frightening considering the country’s present low level of economic growth and development. Strictly speaking, the country’s structure of production is still rudimentary. In the country, the vast majority of the people lives and works in the rural areas. They grow their products using primitive technique, plough, animals, and human power, and transport them (the products) to the market and even sell them by themselves. They and their families also build their own homes and make many of their household utensils. Their counterparts in the mega economies, on the other hand, have become highly specialized. Thy hire others to transport their commodities.
In Nigeria, government is peripheral to the well-being of a host of people who provide such basic things as electricity, water, and security and even roads themselves, which are a given in the large economies.
The reality of this scenario is that the Nigerian economy is encumbered with the critical features of underdevelopment. Worse still, the country is not among the fastest growing economies of the world such as South Korea, Chile, Ireland, and China.
But with its abundant human and natural resources, Nigeria, paradoxically, has the most enviable economic profile on the African continent.
Now the question is: Can Nigeria, against this back-drop realise its dream of becoming a top 20 economy at 2020? just 10 years away. The answer is no. Not because, as a nation, we do not have the equisite resources to manifest the dream but because of the leadership question which has become as stubborn as a mule and our apparent inertia to yield to the laws of motion of societies.
President Jonathan presents a sincere disposition to move the nation forward. But there is no indication that the whole weight of the country will not continue to rest on the enclave oil and gas sector which accounts for over 90 per cent of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.
Besides, the primacy of politics still prevails in the public policy and decision making process of the various governments of the federation. The primacy of politics exists in the process of policy decision making when political considerations outweigh rational and technical questions of selecting alternatives which have the greatest probability of affecting the most efficient and effective allocation of scarce resources.
Let us face the fact. How can a country with inexhaustible pool of self-serving individuals; a country that wastes its resources like Nigeria hope to spin itself to the elite group of 20 largest economics in the world within 10 years. China, India, South Korea, and Brazil are soaring higher and higher because of their openness to change and resolve to base policy decision-making on rational-technical considerations.
Yes, big dreams come true but for one to realize them, one has to be prepared for big changes; one has to pay the price. Apparently, the realisation of our dream of becoming a top 20 economy may be kept far away because of our resistance to social, economic, and attitudinal changes.
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.