Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The Presidency has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for 2025, highlighting ten key policies to address Nigeria’s economic challenges, improve governance, and uplift citizens’ living standards.
The policy outlook, released by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, and duly monitored by Truth Live News, includes the rollout of a multipurpose national identity card as one of the major initiatives Nigerians should expect this year.
The multipurpose ID card, powered by AFRIGO, will offer payment solutions, enhance financial inclusion for over 36% of unbanked Nigerians, and improve access to government services. It is expected to restore confidence in the nation’s identification system, which currently has over 101 million registered NIN holders.
Other Key Policies to Watch
National Youth CONFAB
A National Youth Conference is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025, fostering dialogue between Nigeria’s 70 million youth population and its leadership. The Ministry of Youth will announce selection criteria for 774 representatives across all local government areas.
National Credit Guarantee Company
By mid-2025, the government plans to launch the National Credit Guarantee Company. This initiative is expected to provide guarantees for loans to individuals and small businesses, potentially increasing credit access by over 40% and contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP, which stood at $477 billion in 2024.
Tax Reform Bills
Expected to be passed in the first half of the year, these bills will streamline Nigeria’s tax collection system, which currently collects just 6.1% of GDP in revenue—the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa. The reforms aim to double this to at least 12% by 2027, addressing issues like inflation (currently 21.8%), unemployment, and ease of doing business.
Consumer Credit Phase 2
Building on the success of Phase 1, which provided access to credit for over 100,000 civil servants, Phase 2 will extend these benefits to millions of Nigerians. The scheme is expected to drive industrialization and boost disposable income, with projections indicating an increase in consumer spending by up to 20%.
Special Agro-Processing Zones and Green Imperative
Large farming clusters in six states will begin operations to boost Nigeria’s annual food production, currently at 70 million metric tonnes. The Green Imperative aims to provide mechanized farming equipment and extension services, targeting an increase in agricultural output by 50% within the next five years.
Full Implementation of Local Government Autonomy
Local governments will now directly receive their share of federal allocations, ensuring efficient use of the N2.2 trillion allocated annually to grassroots governance.
National Livestock Program
Nigeria’s livestock sector, which contributes over 6% to the GDP, will be restructured under the new Ministry of Livestock. This program aims to resolve herder-farmer conflicts and increase annual meat production, currently at 360,000 tonnes, by 25%.
Renewed Hope Creative Villages
Creative arts hubs will be established in all 36 states and the FCT, with projections to generate over 500,000 jobs annually. This initiative will also attract investments into the $7 billion Nigerian creative industry and preserve historical sites across the nation.
Infrastructure Projects
Several major projects valued at over $10 billion are set for commissioning in 2025. These include:
Phase one of the $2.5 billion Lagos-Calabar Highway
The $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline
Kaduna Refinery, with a production capacity of 110,000 barrels per day
52MW Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (valued at $55 million)
Multiple power stations, including the 375MW Egbema Power Station in Imo State and Kaduna’s Kudendan Power Plant.
A Transformative Year Ahead
The outlined policies signal President Tinubu’s focus on building a resilient economy. With targeted reforms in agriculture, infrastructure, finance, and governance, the administration hopes to address key challenges and foster inclusive growth.
Public scrutiny and timely execution will be crucial as the administration seeks to meet these ambitious targets and deliver tangible results to Nigerians.