Atiku Proposes $10 Billion Economic Stimulus Fund To Support Agriculture, Manufacturing And MSMEs- Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, has stated that within the first 100 days in office; he will unveil an Economic Stimulus Fund with an initial investment capacity of approximately US$10 billion.
He said this is to support private sector investments in infrastructure and to prioritize support to agriculture, manufacturing and the MSMEs. Also, stated that the first thing he will do is “restore investor confidence in the economy so that they can take risks and invest capital, especially in the non-oil sector. This we can achieve by being more consistent and coherent in our economic policies (policy flip-flops sends investors away).
He added that In the agricultural sector, he will elevate irrigation to a top policy priority; and support both smallholder and commercial farmers to cultivate at least 10% of the potentially irrigable land.
Atiku said the Infrastructure Debt Fund (IDF) will have an initial investment capacity of approximately US$20 billion; and also cause the creation of an Infrastructure Development Credit Guarantee Agency to complement the operation of the IDF; by de-risking investments in infrastructure to build investor confidence in taking risks and investing capital.