What is NEEDS?

NEEDS—the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy—is Nigeria’s plan for prosperity. It is the people’s way of letting the government know what kind of Nigeria they wish to live in, now and in the future. It is the government’s way of letting the people know how it plans to overcome the deep and pervasive obstacles to progress that the government and the people have identified. It is also a way of letting the international commu¬nity know where Nigeria stands—in the region and in the world—and how it wishes to be supported.

What is the vision for Nigeria? What kind of Nigeria do we want for ourselves, for our children, and for the rest of the world? These questions were our starting point in creating a plan for prosperity. In the three years it took to develop NEEDS, a dedicated team travelled the country, holding meetings and workshops to identify what the Nigerian people want for the future, what problems they face, and what can be done to overcome them.

NEEDS is the people’s plan. It is up to regular Nigerians as well as the government to see that it is implemented. 

The NEEDS vision is based on the Constitution; the Kuru Declaration (box 1); previous initiatives, such as Vision 2010; and the widespread consultation and participation throughout Nigeria that was part of the NEEDS process. The programme’s core values draw on the Vision 2010 report, which recognized the importance of respect for elders, honesty and accountability, cooperation, industry, discipline, self-confidence, and moral courage.

Before the restoration of democracy, Nigeria suffered setbacks that tarnished its reputation. A primary aim of NEEDS is to create a new Nigerian citizen who values hard work and who realizes that one cannot have something for nothing. Achieving this aim may be the strongest action Nigeria can take to build a better future for its people.

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