Nigeria has urged African countries to reassess their joint approach to global trade, stressing that no nation on the continent can achieve meaningful progress in isolation as economic conditions continue to shift worldwide.
Speaking at the 2nd African Cassava Conference in Abuja on Monday, themed “Building Sustainable & Quality Driven Cassava Industries in Africa,” the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said Nigeria is heavily investing in grassroots economic development. However, he noted that Africa must also face the realities of global trade, where unity and collective effort are crucial for long-term growth.
Bagudu pointed out that leaders across the continent have consistently expressed commitment to a fair and inclusive global trading system.
According to him, African nations must acknowledge areas where collaboration is the only pathway to success — particularly in international trade.
“We want trade. We want everyone to participate. We want a shared understanding of development where every individual, no matter where they live, is supported,” he stated.
The Minister also outlined the Federal Government’s ongoing macroeconomic reforms, explaining that they were designed to create new revenue opportunities for all tiers of government while boosting local competitiveness.
He further revealed that these reforms are providing fresh funding for the Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan — a national initiative focused on identifying and supporting economic potentials across all 8,809 wards in the country.
“The goal of our macroeconomic reforms is to generate more resources for the federal, state, and local governments, and to empower our hardworking citizens. This is why the federal government launched the Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan, a groundbreaking programme that involves mapping out economic opportunities across all wards in Nigeria,” Bagudu said.
