Dr. Peter Agada, the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), has proposed a new approach to leadership in Nigeria, suggesting that the country needs national engineers to reposition and fix its damaged economy. According to Agada, party manifestos should be seen as a social contract between candidates and the people, going beyond mere rhetoric. This statement was made on 30 September 2026.
Agada emphasized that a party manifesto should be a practical, interactive document with specifics in terms of numbers and figures of what will be done with the inflows of resources that come into the country. He expressed concern that many presidential candidates make promises without a clear idea of where and how resources will be sourced. Agada's vision for Nigeria involves a detailed blueprint for development.
The YPP presidential candidate believes that the economy of Nigeria is not in tandem with everyday reality, citing the example of a civil servant earning N70,000 minimum wage, which is insufficient for basic needs. Agada argued that the system needs to be reset, and that is what his party, YPP, aims to do. He noted that as an architect, he has a deep understanding of the issues.
Agada explained that YPP has taken a different approach by treating Nigeria as a project site, with a focus on turning the country into a well-planned and developed nation. The party has digitally mapped out 809 political wards in Nigeria, working with professionals like town planners to determine the worth of each ward. This master plan includes provisions for electrical infrastructure, roads, mass housing, and schools.
According to Agada, YPP's plan involves giving FAAC allocations to local governments and wards for development, while the Federal Government saves for lean governance. The party aims to trim the cost of governance and save money, using reports like the Steve Oronsaye report as a guide. Additionally, YPP seeks to reform the Nigerian engineering contracting system to reduce costs.
Agada highlighted several examples of projects that have been over-costed, such as the road from Lagos to Calabar, which was estimated at N17 trillion, and a 2-kilometer bridge between Nasarawa and Keffi, costed at N50 billion. YPP's plan involves using intervention funds and reforming the EPC sector to fund development projects.
To cushion the effects of suffering among the people, Agada announced that YPP would provide N40 million to every ward straight away, totaling N480 billion in a year, for development purposes. He also noted that the high cost of fuel is a major contributor to the cost of living crisis in Nigeria, and that YPP would take steps to address this issue.
Key points
- Dr. Peter Agada proposes that Nigeria needs national engineers, not politicians, to fix the country's economy.
- YPP's plan involves a detailed blueprint for development, including a mapped-out plan for each of the 809 political wards in Nigeria.
- The party aims to provide immediate intervention measures, including N40 million to every ward for development purposes.
