By Hassan Hussein
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, says the Federal Government is laying critical infrastructure and implementing economic reforms to position Nigeria on the path to achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2031.
Professor Yilwatda stated this on the sidelines of an event on the nation’s economy.
He explained that the present administration’s economic vision is anchored on the development of strategic infrastructure capable of supporting increased trade, industrialisation and economic growth.
According to him, the government is constructing five deep seaports in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Lagos to reduce the cost of imports and exports, improve efficiency and boost government revenue.
He added that the ports would be linked through an integrated network of roads and rail lines, including the Coastal Highway, to facilitate the movement of goods across the country.
The APC National Chairman also highlighted major highway projects, including the Trans-Saharan Super Highway and the Lagos-Badagry-Sokoto Highway, describing them as vital transport corridors that would connect the hinterland to the ports and stimulate economic activities nationwide.
Professor Yilwatda further explained that the road projects would incorporate hundreds of dams to support irrigation, livestock farming and water supply, thereby strengthening agricultural production along the corridors.
On energy, he noted that the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project would expand access to gas for power generation, fertiliser production, domestic use and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), while supporting industrial growth, particularly in northern Nigeria.
He also pointed to ongoing rail development, including the Lagos-Abuja-Kano-Maradi rail corridor, saying it would enhance regional trade and position Nigeria as a major transit hub for landlocked countries in West and Central Africa.
Professor Yilwatda maintained that alongside infrastructure development, the administration’s tax reforms are designed to stimulate productivity by providing relief for low-income earners and exempting small businesses with annual turnovers below N100 million from paying Company Income Tax.
He expressed confidence that the combination of infrastructure expansion and economic reforms would create a more competitive economy and accelerate Nigeria’s drive towards attaining a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2031.
