Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised to reduce youth unemployment by encouraging young people to go into farming and small-scale businesses if elected in 2027.
Speaking at an NDC rally in Kaduna on Saturday with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Obi said his government would focus more on production, investment and job creation than on consumption. He said young Nigerians would be supported to find productive work, especially in agriculture and small businesses, and would also be taught about the dangers of drug abuse.
Obi connected the rise in drug abuse among youths to unemployment, saying his administration would combine economic opportunities with drug education. He compared Nigeria’s population of about 230 million with Indonesia’s roughly 280 million, arguing that Indonesia performs better economically because its young people are employed.
On borrowing, Obi said his government would borrow only for investment, not for consumption. He said the goal was to move Nigeria from consumption to production and create jobs in the process.
He also called for stronger punishment for those who import and distribute illegal drugs, proposing life imprisonment for drug dealers. According to him, Nigeria’s drug prevalence is about 14 percent, compared with a global rate of about 5 percent.
Obi said his planned administration would be inclusive and would promote unity and investment as ways of addressing unemployment and other national challenges.
