Business
Nigeria Needs N35trn For Vision 2020 -Aganga
Nigeria will require N35 trillion in investments in the next four years to drive the Vision 20:2020 Agenda, Minister of Trade and Investments, Dr Olusegun Aganga, said on Wednesday on assumption of office.
Aganga said at a meeting with staff of the ministry in Abuja that N10 trillion of the amount was expected from the Federal Government, N9 trillion from state governments and N15 trillion from the private sector. He said that the economy would, therefore, rely on the private sector to lift the nation into the club of the top 20 countries in the world by 2020. He explained that the vision agenda informed the decision to re-focus and re-name the ministry to give proper attention to attracting investments rather than give prominence to commerce and industry.
“This will require a new way of thinking, some reforms and structural changes, finding creative solutions to our challenges and a renewed commitment and determination to succeed.
“Our mission is to transform and refocus the Ministry of trade and Investments and to ensure that it takes it rightful place as driver of the Nigerian economy.” According to him, the role of the ministry is critical to its success of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.
“We must ensure that we play our part in delivering sustained economic growth and jobs for the citizenry,” he added. Earlier, Samuel Ortom, Minister of State for Trade and Investments, had underscored the need to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. He called on the staff of the ministry to cooperate with the ministers to ensure the actualisation of the goals of this administration.