Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria must urgently move away from a consumption-driven economy and embrace production, warning that the country cannot import its way to prosperity.
Obi said his campaign would go beyond the pursuit of political power, describing it as an opportunity to engage Nigerians in a national conversation on how to rebuild the country, strengthen the economy and improve living standards.
He made the remarks on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra State, while addressing journalists at a press conference on the key issues he plans to present to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Office (POMR), Idris Zekeri, Obi said although he and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have different backgrounds and experiences, they share a common objective of improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
“Our experiences differ, but our conclusion is clear: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage its public resources responsibly,” he said.
The NDC candidate said the country needed more than reactive economic reforms, urging Nigerians to assess political leaders based on whether their policies had actually improved people’s lives.
He asked whether Nigerians were better off than they were four years ago, whether they could afford food, education and healthcare, and whether businesses were able to expand, produce and create jobs.
Obi also questioned whether young Nigerians could secure productive employment and whether farmers could operate safely and transport their produce to markets.
He urged citizens to demand direct answers from presidential candidates rather than relying on statements issued by their proxies or surrogates.
“This moment gives Nigerians the opportunity to evaluate the records, ideas, and plans of those seeking their mandate to lead their country at a time of significant uncertainty in our rapidly changing world,” he said.
Obi said he considered it a privilege to be among those seeking the mandate to address Nigeria’s challenges, stressing that he remained convinced that the country could work if its resources were properly managed.
“I enter this contest with one firm belief: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work,” he said.
On poverty and insecurity, Obi cited estimates indicating that more than 140 million Nigerians live at or below the national poverty line, while humanitarian agencies estimate that millions could require food assistance during the 2026 lean season.
He also noted that about 3.6 million Nigerians remain internally displaced, largely as a result of conflict and insecurity, while millions of young people enter the labour market annually without finding meaningful employment opportunities.
Speaking on his proposed shift from consumption to production, Obi said Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million represents a major economic opportunity if properly harnessed.
“Nigeria cannot import its way to prosperity. We will produce more of what we consume, process more of what we produce, and compete more effectively in global markets,” he said.
He said his administration would seek to combine experience from public finance management, the private sector and the civil service to transform Nigeria’s large population into productive human capital.
According to him, the country must also turn its natural resources into value-added industries and transform its large domestic market into an engine for investment, enterprise and job creation.
He identified agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, creative industries and services as key sectors that would drive the proposed production-focused economy.
On insecurity, Obi said the crisis had displaced millions and continued to undermine agriculture, education, trade and investment across the country.
He advocated a comprehensive security strategy involving improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies, stronger policing and border management, as well as greater deployment of technology.
The former Anambra governor also addressed healthcare, unemployment and democratic governance, urging Nigerians to scrutinise the records and programmes of those seeking their votes.
He maintained that presidential candidates must be willing to engage directly with citizens across the country and respond to their concerns.
“Any presidential candidate who lacks the resolve to travel across the country, meet the people, and respond to their questions lacks the capacity to govern it,” Obi said.