By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to evidence-based policymaking, effective development planning and results-driven implementation, describing evaluation as essential to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, stated this while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 National Association of Evaluators Conference held recently in Abuja.
According to a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Julie Osagie-Jacobs, Bagudu said evaluation remained a critical tool for translating government policies and development priorities into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond policy formulation to ensure that development plans produce measurable and sustainable outcomes, particularly as the country pursues its $1 trillion economic target, Nigeria Agenda 2050 and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2026–2030.
According to the minister, achieving these national objectives, alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, requires strong institutions, strategic allocation of resources, coordinated implementation and a clear understanding of development outcomes.
He stressed that government interventions must reflect local realities, complement existing investments and address genuine development needs to achieve lasting results.
The minister commended the National Association of Evaluators for providing a platform for constructive engagement on the role of evaluation in national development.
He expressed confidence that the conference deliberations would strengthen the country's capacity to translate development priorities into meaningful outcomes for citizens.
Bagudu also called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders and citizens, emphasising accountability and measurable results as essential to improving the quality of evidence available for development planning and implementation.