The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has unveiled a six-point policy agenda ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections. The agenda focuses on key areas including institutional reform, economic productivity, human capital development, security, infrastructure, and technology. National Chairman Chinedu Obi announced the agenda while inaugurating the Presidential Campaign Council for the party's candidate, Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke.
According to Obi, Nigeria's central challenge is not a lack of potential but the inability to build institutions, leadership systems, and accountability mechanisms that turn national resources into measurable improvements in citizens' lives. He emphasized that the party's governing philosophy is anchored on the "rule of law for peace, productivity, and shared prosperity." The party also pledged "zero tolerance for corruption," with Obi noting that corruption should be seen as an institutional distortion that raises the cost of governance and weakens public services.
The six pillars of the "Esther Rescue Nigeria Agenda" are an effective state, a productive economy, human capital development, security and justice, integrated infrastructure, and science, technology, and innovation. These pillars are derived from the party's 24-pillar blueprint. Obi proposed a shift from personality-driven governance to an institution-driven system, where ministries, departments, and agencies operate with defined mandates, procurement standards, financial controls, performance indicators, and audit mechanisms.
The party's economic plan aims to shift Nigeria from dependence on consumption and crude-resource revenues towards manufacturing, agriculture, technology, services, and exports. Education and healthcare will be central to human capital development, while infrastructure will cover roads, railways, ports, electricity, water, telecommunications, housing, and digital networks. The party also plans to invest in science, research, digital infrastructure, and technical education, treating young Nigerians as a strategic national asset.
Obi emphasized that an implementation framework will set clear responsibilities, timelines, measurable indicators, independent evaluation, and public accountability. He noted that women and young people are under-represented in key decision-making centers despite their numbers in the population and electorate. The choice of Okereke as presidential candidate and Arc Nasir Suleiman Muhammed as running mate reflects the party's commitment to competence, integrity, inclusion, and generational renewal.
Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke, the party's presidential candidate, stated that politics in Nigeria has for too long been about sharing power, adding that an NRM government would be about sharing prosperity. She said the campaign would be about structure, evidence, and peace, and that the party would rescue Nigeria from "darkness, hunger, insecurity, joblessness, and hopelessness" on the principles of legality, constitutionalism, accountability, transparency, unity, and the rule of law.
Obi urged council members to campaign on ideas, policies, and competence rather than insults and propaganda, and to conduct themselves with discipline and professionalism. The party's six-point agenda and commitment to institutional reform, economic productivity, and human capital development are seen as a new approach to governance in Nigeria. The party aims to provide a viable alternative to the current political landscape.
Key points
- The National Rescue Movement's six-point agenda focuses on institutional reform, economic productivity, human capital development, security, infrastructure, and technology.
- The party's governing philosophy is anchored on the "rule of law for peace, productivity, and shared prosperity."
- The party aims to shift Nigeria's economy from dependence on consumption and crude-resource revenues towards manufacturing, agriculture, technology, services, and exports.
