Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says his administration will return Nigerian youths to farming and small-scale businesses if elected president in 2027.
Obi spoke on Saturday in Kaduna at a political gathering organised by the NDC, where he and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his running mate, addressed supporters on their plans for Nigeria, particularly in the area of job creation.
Obi said his administration would run an inclusive government anchored on unity and investment.
“If you elect us to serve, we will only borrow money for investment,” he 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 despite having a larger population than Nigeria, Indonesia is performing better than the country because a large chunk of its youth population is 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.
“We will make sure they go back to small businesses. We will support them and tell them the bad effects of drugs.”
The former governor of Anambra further decried what he described as a high drug prevalence rate in Nigeria.
He said the country lacks adequate laws against drug importation, but if elected, his administration would subject drug dealers to life imprisonment.
“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.”