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Slow but Steady: The 7- Points Agenda By Fatima Saddu Bama
Like every administration that unfolds its plans for the development of this country, the Yaradua led administration unveiled the 7-Point Agenda as a plan of action to move the country a little closer to its development target. For over twelve months, Nigerians were left wondering whether the seven point agenda is just another gimmick to keep them in the usual mood of great expectations, like it had been the case with successive administrations. If allowed to score the various developmental effort by the previous administrations , starting with Farm Resettlement Scheme, Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution, Back to Land Programme, Directorate for Foods Roads and Rural Infrastructure, the list is endless. I would give them less than 20%. These programmes were monocultural in nature basically concentrating on agriculture and so-called rural development at the detriment of other sectors. This is evident in the decay that bedevilled the power sector, the environmental catastrophe in the Niger Delta region, the decay in the education sector, the growing level of insecurity, and massive unemployment and even the agricultural sector was “much ado about nothing”.
Here we are to day, face-to-face with a strategic policy programme designed for a concrete visible development of Nigeria, tagged the 7-Point Agenda. It is an all-encompassing programme touching on key areas of the needs of Nigerians. The programme is designed to transform POWER and ENERGY through infrastructural reforms in this critical sector by developing a sufficient and adequate power supply to ensure Nigeria’s ability to develop as a modern economy and an industrial nation by the year 2015.
Development of modern technology, research, financial injection into research, production and development of agricultural inputs to revolutionize the agricultural sector leading to a 5 – 10 fold increase in yield and production which would result in massive domestic and commercial outputs and technological knowledge transfer to farmers and thus ensuring FOOD SECURITY.
The Agenda also touches on WEALTH CREATION which would eliminate the reliance on revenue from non-renewal oil, paving way for Nigeria’s development industrially through diversified production especially in the agricultural and solid minerals sector. This requires Nigerians to choose to work, as hard work by all is required to achieve this reform. e The transportation sector in Nigeria have been used in the past as a conduit for siphoning billions of naira through “abracadabra” transport schemes, with its poor roads networks is an efficient means of mass transit of people and goods. With a goal of a modernized industrialized Nigeria, the Agenda seeks to develop the nation’s transport sector.
While hundreds of billions of dollars have been lost through unused government-owned landed assets, changes in the land laws and the emergence of land reforms will optimize Nigeria’s growth through the release of lands for commercialized farming and other large scale business by the private sector. The final result will ensure improvements and boosts in the production and wealth creation initiatives.
The poor security climate precludes both external and internal investment into the nation. Thus, 7 points Agenda puts security as not only a constitutional requirement but also as a necessary infrastructure for the development of a modern Nigeria economy. With its particular needs, the Niger Delta security issue will be the primary focus.
The decay in Education sector as a result of years of half-baked reforms would be addressed by the Agenda’s two-fold reforms in the educational sector which will ensure firstly the minimum acceptable international standards of education for all. With that achieved, a strategic educational development plan will ensure excellence in both the tutoring and learning of skills in science and technology by students who will be seen as the future innovators and industrialists of Nigeria. This reform will be achieved through massive injection into the Education sector.
Some few months ago I could hardly pin point a single area to score President Yar’adua on his 7-Point Agenda. I almost joined my fellow “country people” to rain thunder and brimstone of criticism on the programme and the brains behind it, when suddenly I remembered the adage “slow but steady wins the race” and I held my peace. Today, the energy sector is no longer what it used to be. Believe you me I enjoy more than 12 hours electric power supply daily in Maiduguri a thing that had eluded dwellers for several years. This is the case in other parts of the country as Ranti my friend in Lagos and Ijeoma in Aba can confirm it. Do you know that a chunk of the 2008 supplementary budget is going into the power sector reform? I am confident that Mr President would monitor how every penny is spent, for Nigerians are still weeping over past administrations spending on invisible power/energy projects.
The involvement of private sector in Agriculture through injection of funds from banks and relevant agencies to encourage small scale farmers in boosting agricultural yield. The distribution of fertilizer this year’s farming season was encouraging as it reached several farmers in the rural areas. This to some extent did cut down on the suffering meted to farmers by fertilizer merchants of our times. There are several agricultural efforts in place to move agriculture to its next level especially the funding of Agriculture by the private sector. There is increase in yield this season
Talking security , the government has restored the scraped Ministry of Police Affairs, improved welfare of security Agents especially the Police. . It has also created the Ministry of Niger Delta to address the security and other issues in the region.
Mr President, you may be slow but you are steadily addressing the decay in the various sectors. Nigerians have not felt the impact of your reform in the Education sector. Much needs to be done to standardise our education sector. While you make strides in the power/energy, security, agricultural sectors and Niger Delta issues; “forget not” the education sector.
Nigerians! The 7-Points Agenda may be slow but it is steady and its impact gradually been felt. Who knows, this could be the Messiah.
Fatima Saddu Bama
Department of Mass Communication University of Maiduguri
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