The Nigerian Economic Transformation Agenda: Religious and Security Factors

Abstract

The Transformation Agenda is based on and draws its inspiration from vision 20 2020 and the first National Implementation Plan (NIP). The objective is to deepen the effects and provide sense of direction for the current administration’s all inclusive development of Nigeria during its tenure. The agenda is a based on the set of priority policies and programmes which will transform the Nigerian economy to meet what current and future needs of our people. A country is classified as developed when she is able to provide qualitative life for her citizenry. Development or transformation is critical and essential to the sustenance of any nation. In spite of the huge human, material and natural resources in her possession, Nigeria in the last fifty two years have been battling with the problems of development. This paper has highlighted a perspective view of earlier similar efforts. A lot of factors have been involved. However, the paper dwells on religious tolerance and security as crucial vehicles in the current effort to transform the Nigerian economy. Religious value systems play very significant role in collective, self-awareness and identity, which draw together individuals, families and regions and pull them towards greater self-consciousness needed to build and animate a nation from within. In this context, security involves freedom from danger or threat to a nation’s ability to protect and develop itself, promote its cherished values and well-being of its people. National Security is therefore a sine-qua-non for political stability and socio economic development of any nation. The paper has in detail discussed how the virtually absence of these factors is marring the current transformation of the present administration. Suggestions or recommendations are offered on how to promote religious tolerance and national security in order to achieve the transformation agenda and ensure that Nigeria is counted among the top twenty developed countries by the year 2020.

Key Words: Transformation, Religious Tolerance, Security.