-
Shettima: We’re builders of a sustainable future, not crisis managers
Byline: Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, approved the Cotton, Textile, and Garment Development Board and agribusiness and livestock strategies projected to generate $74–$90 billion by 2035, aiming to boost Nigeria’s economy and address insecurity.
The 149th NEC meeting, attended by governors, the Central Bank Governor, the Finance Minister, and others, also endorsed the Green Imperative Project (GIP) national office in Abuja with regional offices in six geopolitical zones to tackle animal husbandry crises.
NEC observed a minute’s silence for victims of recent killings in Benue and Plateau, extending condolences to the affected states. Shettima urged members to prioritise action over rhetoric, stating, “We are not merely responders to crises. We are architects of a sustainable future.” He emphasised that NEC’s role is to deliver results, not promises, to move Nigeria forward.
The Cotton, Textile, and Garment Development Board, to be domiciled in the Presidency, will regulate the sector with governors from six geopolitical zones and ministers of agriculture, budget, and industry as members. Funded by the Textile Import Levy collected by the Nigeria Customs Service, it aims to revive a sector that once powered Nigeria’s economy.
“Nigeria produces only 13,000 metric tonnes of cotton while importing textiles worth millions. This is an invitation to act,” Shettima said, noting cotton’s potential in 34 states.
The $74–$90 billion agribusiness and livestock plan builds on the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) and National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), focusing on animal health, feed, water, statistics, and breed improvement for 2025–2026. NEC approved transferring N100 billion previously committed to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and creating state-level livestock ministries. “This will transform Nigeria into a global red meat exporter,” Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri said.
Shettima stressed the board’s alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying, “Our goal is not just regulation. It is a revival to re-industrialise and empower communities.” The GIP and National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism will enhance food security, building on the Nutrition 774 Initiative for an inclusive food economy.
The Accountant-General reported the Excess Crude Account at $473,754.57, the Stabilisation Account at ₦63.5 billion, and the Natural Resources Development Account at ₦72.8 billion as of April 2025. Shettima called for NEC field visits to monitor implementation, noting, “Our people evaluate us by the evidence of impact.”
The education minister presented a plan to equip five million youths with entrepreneurial skills by 2030 via a revamped Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) system, involving standardised accreditation, modernised colleges, and private-sector partnerships. NEC urged states to join, citing its potential for job creation, as seen in the Digital Bridge Institute’s plan for 50,000 digital jobs by 2030.