The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled an ambitious economic reform agenda aimed at transforming Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy into a production-based economy powered by regional value chains and local industrial growth.
A leading figure in the ADC coalition and former Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman, disclosed the party’s economic blueprint in a policy document released on Friday in Abuja.
Lukman said the policy direction formed part of the ADC’s manifesto and broader reform principles adopted during the party’s National Convention held on April 14, 2026.
He explained that the party was determined to move Nigeria away from what he described as an economy driven mainly by consumption and oil dependency to one anchored on production, industrialisation and value addition.
According to him, the ADC plans to unlock the economic potential of the country’s geopolitical zones through structured regional value chains tied to each region’s comparative advantage.
“The commitment of the ADC is to prioritise development of regional value chains that integrate agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, technology and services, ensuring that raw materials produced in each region are processed and transformed domestically before export,” he stated.
Lukman said the policy framework was designed to tackle key economic problems confronting Nigerians, including unemployment, inflation, exchange rate instability and declining productivity.
He added that the party rejected “shock-therapy reforms,” insisting that economic policies must be humane, gradual and backed by social protection measures capable of cushioning the effects on vulnerable citizens.
“The ADC manifesto commits its elected representatives to ensure that economic stabilisation must protect purchasing power, support job creation, reduce hardship and expand opportunity,” he said.
The former PGF Director-General further disclosed that the party’s policy framework was built on three major pillars — putting citizens at the centre of governance, addressing Nigeria’s structural challenges through coordinated reforms, and implementing policies in ways that protect vulnerable Nigerians.
Beyond economic reforms, Lukman said the ADC policy agenda also covered agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure, governance, energy, security and social protection.
On agriculture, he said the party would prioritise food security through mechanised farming, irrigation development, support for smallholder farmers and performance-based budgeting.
He noted that insecurity, rising production costs, climate pressures and poor technology adoption had continued to weaken Nigeria’s agricultural sector and fuel food import dependence.
Speaking on governance reforms, Lukman said the ADC would strengthen accountability, uphold the rule of law and ensure independent electoral management free from executive interference.
He also disclosed plans to introduce performance audits, value-for-money governance and fiscal responsibility measures.
On security, Lukman revealed that the party proposed a four-level coordinated strategy involving local intelligence gathering, state-level prevention systems, national coordination and regional collaboration.
According to him, the ADC would support decentralised policing, improved intelligence sharing, technology-driven border management and professionalisation of security agencies.
He called on the party leadership to organise orientation programmes for candidates ahead of the 2027 elections to ensure that elected officials remain committed to implementing the party’s manifesto.
“The decisions of Nigerians to vote for the ADC in the 2027 elections would be earned based on the emergence of a new framework that commits candidates of the party to deliver on electoral promises made,” he stated.
Lukman maintained that the ADC and its coalition partners remained focused on presenting a credible alternative capable of addressing Nigeria’s economic and governance challenges.
