Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last election, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the Nigerian government to adopt data-driven policies to address the country’s economic challenges, drawing lessons from Indonesia’s development strategies.
In a statement on Monday, Obi outlined key insights gained from his discussions with top Indonesian leaders, including former Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Agung Laksono, former Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, and Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Yandri Susanto.
During his engagement with Laksono, Obi examined Indonesia’s governance strategies under former Presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo, focusing on structured planning, execution, and measurable development in critical sectors.
Similarly, in his meeting with Jusuf Kalla, Obi noted that Indonesia’s economic transformation was driven by a strong commitment to leadership and strategic decision-making. The former Vice President emphasized that development across multiple sectors was achieved through a deliberate and focused approach.
Obi’s discussions with Minister Susanto centered on Indonesia’s structured approach to rural development. He highlighted how the country categorized villages from extremely underdeveloped to self-sufficient, ensuring targeted progress in education, healthcare, and support for micro and small businesses. This, he noted, played a significant role in raising Indonesia’s Human Development Index (HDI) and increasing per capita income from $1,136 in 2004 to approximately $5,000 in 2024.
Comparing Indonesia’s progress with Nigeria’s, Obi stressed that the country could achieve similar inclusive and sustainable growth by implementing well-structured policies focusing on rural development, industrialization, and economic diversification.
“Driven by my firm conviction that Nigeria must learn from other nations that have successfully navigated economic challenges, I embarked on a five-day visit to Indonesia to engage with key stakeholders,” Obi stated.
He explained that his discussions covered security, education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, noting that Indonesia’s transformation was the result of strategic governance and effective policy implementation.
Obi further emphasized that with political will and strategic execution, Nigeria could unlock its full potential and ensure balanced development across all regions.
(Trinitas Newspaper)
