Transcript of Democracy Day Broadcast - 29th May, 2012 by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR
Within two years, it would be exactly 100 years since the Northern
and Southern protectorates were amalgamated and Nigeria was born. We need a lot
more introspection, even as we look forward. We must take steps to heal the
wounds of the past and work together, as a people with a shared destiny under
one flag. We must strengthen our collective memory, draw strength from our
history, and build bridges of unity to take our country to greater heights.
Fellow Nigerians:
1. One year ago, I was privileged to stand before you, to take the
oath of office as President of our dear country, the third to serve you as President
since the return to democratic rule in 1999. Today, I remember that day and the
processes leading to it with profound gratitude to God Almighty and to all
Nigerians who have worked very hard to enrich our journey from military
dictatorship to inclusive democratic governance.
2. For the past 13 years, we have remained a stable democracy. We have
together demonstrated that the government of the people is an ideal that the
people of Nigeria cherish. We have our differences as individuals and as politicians,
but we have shown great faith in democracy and its institutions. We have
refused to be limited by our differences. Despite reservations about some of
our institutions, we have refused to submit to despair. This achievement is a
testament to the courage and optimism of the Nigerian people.
3. As we celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, I pay tribute to all the
men and women who have made our democratic experience meaningful: the ordinary
people who resisted military rule, and have remained resolute in their embrace
of democracy; the army of Nigerian voters who, at every election season, troop
out in large numbers to exercise their right of franchise; the change agents in
civil society who have remained ever watchful and vigilant.
4. I pay special tribute also to all patriots who are the pillars of
our collective journey, most especially, our armed forces who have steadfastly
subordinated themselves to civil authority in the past 13 years. They have
continued to demonstrate a great sense of professionalism. They have discharged
their duties to the nation with honour and valour. In a sub-region that
has witnessed instances of political instability, authored by restless
soldiers, the Nigerian Armed Forces have remained professional in their support
of democracy.
5. When General Abdusalami Abubakar handed over the baton of authority
to President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999, it was a turning point for Nigeria. We
did not arrive at that turning point by accident. Many Nigerians laid down
their lives for the transition to democracy to occur. Some were jailed.
Media houses were attacked and shut down. But the people’s resolve was firm and
unshakeable. This is what we remember. This is what we celebrate. On this
day, I recall especially the martyrdom of Chief M. K. O. Abiola, whose
presumed victory in the 1993 Presidential election, and death, while in
custody, proved to be the catalyst for the people’s pro-democracy uprising. The
greatest tribute that we can pay to him, and other departed heroes of Nigeria’s
democracy, is to ensure that we continue to sustain and consolidate our
democratic institutions and processes, and keep Hope alive.
6. Let us individually and collectively, continue to keep the spirit
of this day alive. No task is more important. We must continue to do well as a
people and as a democracy. We must remember where we are coming from, so we can
appreciate how far we have travelled.
7. When I assumed office as Acting President, in 2010, on account of
the health challenges suffered by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, there was
so much anxiety in the land. The tone of public debate was febrile. Some
persons sought to use the situation in the country to sow the seeds of discord.
My primary task at that time was to do all that was humanly possible to ensure
stability within the polity. With the support and commitment of patriotic
Nigerians from all walks of life, and the grace of the Almighty God, we were
able to do so.
8. On May 6, 2010, following President Yar’Adua’s death, I assumed office
as substantive President. I subsequently presented myself as a candidate for
the 2011 Presidential elections, with a promise that under my watch, the
elections would be free, fair and credible. We kept faith with that promise. On
May 29, 2011, I was sworn in as President, the fifth elected leader of Nigeria
since independence. The success of the 2011 elections and the international
acclaim that it generated was due to your patriotic zeal and commitment. I will
like to seize this opportunity to thank all patriotic Nigerians who stood by
us, and have remained unwavering in their support. These Nigerians understand
one thing: that we all have a duty to protect and promote our country, and that
this country belongs to all of us. Electoral contest is about values. We must
not lose sight of those values that strengthen us as a people. As long as I am
President, I will do my utmost to continue to work hard in pursuit of the
common good.
9. There are challenges, yes, but we are working hard to address those
challenges. And, by God’s grace, we will succeed. My confidence is bolstered by
the results which we have achieved in different sectors within the last twelve
months.
10. Our democracy is stable. Its foundation is strong and firm. Its
future is bright. Last year, I had spoken about the policy of “one man one
vote, one woman, one vote, one youth, one vote”. I am glad to see that the
Nigerian people in all elections have continued to respect the principle of
fair play. Since this administration came into office, we have gone to
great lengths to strengthen our democratic institutions, particularly the
Independent National Electoral Commission. There are still persons who
believe that elections should be violent and unhealthy, but they are in the
minority. They will not derail our democracy because the majority of Nigerians
will not allow them to do so.
11. Following the spate of violence, in some parts of the country,
after the 2011 elections, our administration set up a committee on
post-election violence to among other things, investigate the causes and nature
of electoral violence and make appropriate recommendations. We will be guided
by the White Paper, on that committee’s report, in dealing more firmly
with electoral violence and fraud. This will include the establishment of
Electoral Offences Tribunals to deal speedily with established cases of
electoral violence. We cannot afford to treat the success we have recorded with
our democratic experience with levity. Electoral reform is central to our administration’s
transformation agenda. I urge all political parties to embrace this reform.
12. Our successful elections, last year, opened new vistas for
Nigeria’s foreign policy. More than ever before, Nigeria’s achievements have
generated a lot of international goodwill and recognition. We have continued to
build on this by further showing leadership in the sub-region and the African
continent. Under my watch as Chairman of the sub-regional body, ECOWAS, and
subsequently, Nigeria was in the forefront of the efforts to ensure democratic
stability in Niger, Mali, Guinea Bissau, and particularly at a critical moment
in Cote d’Ivoire. Our foreign policy process has proven to be dynamic and
pro-active. Nigeria’s place is secure among many friends in the comity of
nations. We are building on that friendship to open up opportunities for
foreign investments in the Nigerian economy and to provide necessary support
for the vibrant community of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
13. We will continue to work hard, to turn domestic successes into a
source of motivation for greater achievements in the international arena. We
are fully aware that it is only when our people are happy and confident that
they would be in a good position to walk tall in relating with others.
14. Today, I want to talk about what we are doing and what we have
done. I want to reassure you that we are making progress. But we can also do a
lot more. We must. And we will.
15. Our economic outlook is positive. When I assumed office last year,
there were still fears about the impact of the global economic recession, and
implications for investments. Many Nigerians were worried about the growing
rate of unemployment. In order to set Nigeria on a sound and sustainable
path toward economic growth, this administration unveiled a set of priority
policies, programmes, and projects encapsulated in the Transformation Agenda.
These programmes and policies are aimed at consolidating our budget,
fostering job creation, engendering private sector-led inclusive growth, and
creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive for the ultimate betterment
of the lives of Nigerians.
16. Today, progress has been made. The country’s credit rating is
positive, in contrast with many nations being downgraded. In 2011, our
economy grew by 7.45%. As at mid-May 2012, our foreign exchange reserves had
risen to $37.02 billion, the highest level in 21 months. We have stabilized and
improved our fiscal regime. We brought the fiscal deficit down to 2. 85% of GDP
from 2.9% in 2011. We reduced recurrent expenditures from 74% to 71% and
reduced domestic borrowing from N852 billion in 2011 to N744 billion in 2012.
We cut out over N100 billion of non-essential expenditure and increased our
internally generated revenue from N200 billion to N467 billion.
17. For the first time in over a decade, we now have a draft Trade
Policy which provides a multi-dimensional framework to boost our trade regime
and facilitate the inflow of investments. We have generated over N6. 6 trillion
worth of investment commitments. The total value of our trade is also much
higher than the value estimated the previous year due to deliberate government
policies. To facilitate the ease of doing business in Nigeria, we have a policy
in place to make visa procurement easier for foreign investors, with safeguards
to prevent abuse.
18. The goal of our administration is to ensure
that every Nigerian can find gainful employment. Given my dissatisfaction with
the prevailing unemployment situation in the country, our administration has
embarked on an ambitious strategy of creating jobs and job-creators through the
launch of several initiatives mainly targeted at the youths and women.
19. In October 2011, we launched the Youth Enterprise with Innovation
in Nigeria Programme, designed to encourage entrepreneurship and provide grants
for small and medium scale enterprises. Over 1, 200 Nigerian youths have
benefitted from this initiative. We have also launched the Public Works Women
and Youth Empowerment Programme, which is designed to employ 370, 000 youths
per annum, with 30% of the jobs specially reserved for women. Let me make it
clear here that our YouWIN programme is designed to nurture and mentor young
entrepreneurs to become major players, employers and wealth creators in
business.
20. We are gradually reducing the footprints of government in business
activities through privatization, liberalization and deregulation based on our
recognition that the private sector should be the engine of growth in our
economy. To ensure that the private sector is well positioned for this task,
our administration has embarked on key structural reforms in the Power Sector
and at the Ports.
21. To improve reliable power supply, our administration is
judiciously implementing the Power Sector Roadmap, which is at an advanced
stage, to fully privatize power generation and distribution while reducing the
cost of electricity to rural households and the urban poor.
22. The commitment of this Administration to the provision of regular
and uninterrupted power supply remains strong and unwavering. We all
agree that adequate and regular power supply will be the significant trigger to
enhance this nation’s productive capacity and accelerate growth. It is
for this reason that I remain optimistic that the reforms we have initiated,
the decisions we have taken so far and the plans we intend to faithfully
prosecute will yield the desired results.
23. To underline this commitment, three weeks ago, I convened a
special session on Power and gave specific instructions on the fast tracking of
gas production and delivery to ensure improved availability of power. I
also directed that the power sector reforms must continue on schedule and that
privatization of the sector must be completed according to plan. 24. Our
approach is two-pronged: First, is the immediate repair of power plants,
as well as transmission and distribution infrastructure in the short term.
The second is the building of institutions and the provision of enablers
to attract investors. We have revived and are accelerating the completion of
the National Integrated Power Projects. We are also building about 4000km of
transmission lines and hundreds of substations. We have completed the design
for the construction of both Mambilla and Zungeru Hydro power plants which will
add about 3, 000 MW to the national grid.
25. By mid 2010, the national power output was about 2, 800 MW. By the
end of 2011, we reached a peak of more than 4, 000 MW. A National Gas Emergency
Plan has also been launched to redress the problem of gas supply which arose
essentially due to poor planning.
26. For long-term power availability, we have strengthened a
number of key institutions such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission, the Bulk Trader, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria,
and others. We are also working with the World Bank to provide guarantees
for gas and power providers. The signing of MOUs with World Leaders in
power equipment – General Electric of USA and Siemens of Germany as well as US
and China Exim Banks for financial investment, is a clear indication of
the level of confidence which the world investment community has in our power
sector road map.
27. In addition, the privatisation programme has attracted expression
of interest from 131 companies across the globe. Our decision to bring in
the private sector is clearly intended to achieve our target of generating and
distributing sufficient and reliable power within the shortest time possible.
With the measures we have put in place, we will surely achieve success in
transforming the power sector.
28. We have also focused our efforts on Ports and Customs reforms to
ensure efficiency in the handling of ports and port-related businesses. Our
administration has streamlined bureaucratic activities at the Ports by reducing
the number of agencies from 14 to 7. We have also reduced the time for the
clearance of goods from about a month, to seven days, with the long-term
objective of ensuring that cargoes are cleared within 48 hours in line with
international best practice. In the meantime, our ports, for the first time,
now open for business for 24 hours.
29. In the Oil and Gas Sector, our Administration has charted a new
course that will ensure enduring transparency and accountability. We are
re-drafting the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to ensure it meets the
aspirations of all Stakeholders given the current realities and future
expectations in the global energy landscape. Work on the PIB will be concluded
in June 2012 and formally submitted to the National Assembly. Additionally,
Special Task Forces dealing with Governance and Control, Petroleum Revenue and
National refineries are finalizing their work to ensure probity across the oil
and gas sector, and self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products.
30. In the Downstream Sector, the Nigerian Content Development Act,
since inception in 2010, has boosted the local production of line pipes,
in-country fabrication tonnage and engineering support services. As a result,
retained in-country spend has grown from approximately US $1bn to a current estimate
of US$4bn, and over US$3 billion Foreign Direct Investment has been brought in
for upgrading and building new yards, altogether generating over 120,000 direct
and indirect jobs.
31. Capacity utilization of existing domestic refineries has greatly
improved from 30 to 60 percent. We have commenced the phased plan to return the
refineries to 90 percent capacity utilization with the expected completion of
the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt refinery by the end of 2012, to be followed
by Warri and Kaduna refineries in 2013.
32. In the Upstream Sector, the April 2012 commissioning of the Usan
Deep Offshore Field has increased crude oil production capacity by 180 thousand
barrels per day. Also, Government continues to support the National Oil
Company, NPDC, by assigning 55% equity in 8 divested blocks which has resulted
in increase in reserves from 350 million barrels to 2.1 billion barrels and
160, 000 barrels of production. We have also made significant progress in gas
infrastructure development, investing close to US$1bn for the construction of
some 1000 km of pipelines, gas supply growth and stimulation of gas
industrialization. Between now and the third quarter of 2013, Final
Investment Decisions (FIDs) will be made on gas-based industries, such as
the petrochemicals and fertilizer plants at Koko, the Central Processing Units
(CPF) in Obiafu/Obrikom, and the gas growth projects. Also, the sum of N11
billion is provided in the 2012 Budget for Hydro-Carbon exploration in the Lake
Chad Basin.
33. The Gas Revolution initiative will fully support and sustain
domestic power, whilst creating Africa’s largest gas based industrial park,
which on completion will underpin the creation of over a million jobs and
attract over US$16 billion in Foreign Direct Investment. To protect the
gains of these initiatives for all Nigerians, we are aggressively addressing
the increasing incidents of crude oil theft and other criminal activities in
the sector.
34. As a deliberate move, our goal is to transform Nigeria from a
mono-modal economy, to a diversified one. The sector that we are focusing on to
diversify our economy – and one in which Nigeria has huge comparative advantage
- is the agriculture sector. Agriculture accounts for about 40% of our GDP and
over 70% of all employment. Increases in agricultural productivity will drive
down rural poverty and revive our rural economy.
35. In this regard, we are aggressively pursuing an agricultural
transformation agenda. Agriculture is no longer a development programme. We are
now treating agriculture as a business, one that can generate wealth and create
jobs for millions of our youths.
36. We have implemented major reforms in the sector, notably in the
fertilizer sub-sector. We have ended the practice of Federal Government
procurement and distribution of fertilizers. This we did because only 11% of
farmers get the fertilizers that are bought and distributed by government. The
old system encouraged rent seekers to collude and deprive farmers of access to
fertilizers, while some of the fertilizers ended up with political farmers and
in neighbouring countries.
37. Now, the procurement and commercialization of fertilizers and
seeds have been fully deregulated to the private sector. We have ended
the culture of corruption in fertilizer procurement. We must also end the
era of food imports. Nigeria spends over 10 billion dollars every year
importing wheat, rice, sugar and fish alone. This is unacceptable.
38. Our agricultural transformation agenda is directed at promoting
local production, substituting for imported foods, and adding value to our
locally produced crops. We are recording successes already. Government’s policy
to ensure rice self-sufficiency by 2015 is already paying off. New rice mills
are being established by the private sector to mill locally produced rice.
Ebony Agro Industries located in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has
rolled out its high quality parboiled rice. In Kano, Umza rice mill has taken
off and can hardly meet demand, while in Benue State Ashi rice has hit the
market. Consumers are buying more of Abakaliki and Ofada rice too.
39. To further accelerate the local production and milling of high
quality rice, government is facilitating the import and installation of 100 new
large scale integrated rice mills across the country. This will allow Nigeria,
for the first time in its history, to have the capacity to mill all of the rice
that we consume.
40. Our cassava policy is working, as we accelerate the pace of
utilization of cassava to create markets for millions of our farmers. Our goal
is a bold one: we will make Nigeria, which is the largest producer of cassava
in the world, to also become the largest processor of high value cassava
products in the world.
41. To further encourage cassava utilization and value-added products,
government will support corporate bakers and master bakers across the country
to use high quality cassava flour for baking. Last year I announced an increase
in tariff and levy on wheat. To encourage the cassava flour inclusion policy, I
now direct that part of the levy and tariff on wheat be set aside to support
the promotion of high quality cassava flour and composite cassava bread. This will
include support for needed enzymes, technical training and equipment for
corporate bakers and master bakers, as well as accelerated cassava production.
42. We have also secured markets for cassava outside Nigeria, and for
the first time ever, Nigeria will export this year 1 million metric tons of
dried cassava chips to China. This will earn Nigeria 136 million US dollars in
foreign exchange. Last week we also successfully started the commercial use of
feed grade cassava grits, produced locally, for use in our poultry industry.
43. We are reviving our lost glory in cocoa, with massive distribution
of 3.6 million pods of high-yielding cocoa varieties for farmers all across the
cocoa growing states of the country. The pods will be provided free of charge.
We are reviving cotton production in the North, as well. I have directed that
all seeds for cotton should be provided, free of charge, to all cotton farmers.
44. Let me reiterate my personal passion and commitment to driving the
agricultural transformation for Nigeria. The prosperity of Nigeria must start
with improving the living standards of our farmers, and revitalizing rural
economies across the nation. The newly inaugurated Agricultural Transformation
Implementation Council, which I personally Chair, will further drive our
continued revolution of the sector. Our goal is to add 20 million metric tons
of food to our domestic food supply by 2015 and create 3.5 million jobs. To
achieve this, the appropriate infrastructure to support all-year round farming
through irrigation is being rehabilitated and developed across the
country.
45. We must use our population to create markets for what we produce.
We must grow local, buy local and eat local. To promote this, I have directed
that all official functions of government serve local foods, especially our
local rice and cassava bread and other foods. In the State House, I am
faithfully keeping to my promise of eating cassava bread and local rice.
46. Our administration is committed to the rapid and beneficial
development of our country’s Minerals and metals potential. In the last
year, we recorded remarkable achievements in Mines and Steel Development. We
increased the number of investors in the mining sector due to the transparent
manner in which titles are now issued on a “first come-first served and use it
or lose it basis.” A total of 2,476 active mineral titles were issued compared
to 666 titles issued out in the previous year, thereby reducing, significantly,
illegal mining activities. About 350, 000 additional jobs were created, arising
from the activities of newly registered operators. We have initiated a
programme to support private steel production outfits. This has resulted in an
increase in production figures for steel and other metals to over 1 million
tonnes.
47. It is our collective desire as Nigerians to improve the standard
of education. We are particularly aggressive in addressing this challenge. As a
former school teacher, I know that it is not enough to create jobs; we must
develop human capacity, and train a generation of Nigerian children with better
competencies and skills. This will grant them the edge that they require to
compete in a skills-driven global economy, and by extension, strengthen our
national competitiveness index.
48. I want every Nigerian child to have an opportunity to receive
quality education and acquire useful skills. We are reforming the education
sector from basic to tertiary level. The Federal Government recently launched
the Almajiri Education Programme to reduce the number of out-of-school children
which currently stands at about 9 million. Similar programmes will soon be
introduced in various parts of the country. At the tertiary level, it is the
policy of this administration that every State will have a Federal University.
49. To this end, we have established within the last year, nine (9)
new Federal Universities and licensed nine (9) new private universities,
bringing the total number of universities in the country to 124. Even with
this, there is still the challenge of getting adequate admission space for
prospective undergraduates. While we are addressing this, the Federal
Government is also conscious of the fact that our universities need to be
better equipped, particularly with well trained teachers. Government is,
therefore, working on a programme to provide scholarships for Nigerians who are
interested in academics, to enable them obtain their Doctorate degrees within
and outside the country.
50. In addition, the Federal Government has launched a Special
Presidential Scholarship Scheme for our best and brightest brains. We are
selecting the best out of our First Class graduates in various disciplines,
especially engineering and science. They will be sent for post-graduate studies
in the best universities in the world, with the expectation that this will lay
the foundation for a desirable scientific and technological revolution that
will take Nigeria into Space in the not too distant future.
51. One of the first steps taken by this administration was the
creation of a Ministry of Communications Technology. Its mandate includes the
design of programmes and initiatives to deploy ICT as a driver of sustainable
growth and the training of skilled manpower. For our country to remain
relevant, we need to adequately educate our people, as it is through education
that we can turn our people into assets that can help Nigeria compete globally,
and create jobs in the new knowledge economy.
52. By the same token, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is
providing training opportunities for the youths in the Niger Delta. In the past
year, a total of 704 youths have been sent for training, abroad and locally, in
various fields of endeavour, including agriculture, petroleum engineering,
commerce, tourism, and maritime studies. Nine skills centres are being
built, one in each of the nine states of the Niger Delta; three of them will be
completed this year.
53. An efficient and affordable public transport system remains a
priority of this Administration. Our transformation agenda in the road sector
which seeks to deliver better and safer roads to Nigerians, as well as to link
the six geo-political zones in the country with dual carriageways, is very much
on course. There has been increased construction activities in the ongoing
dualisation of Abuja–Abaji–Lokoja Road, Kano–Potiskum–Maiduguri Road; the
Benin–Ore–Shagamu Expressway; the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway; and the
construction of the Loko–Oweto bridge, across River Benue.
54. Work has been slow on the East-West road due to budgetary
constraints, but government will discharge all liabilities to contractors
before the end of June, and funds for the remaining part of the year, will be
provided to accelerate the pace of work. In other parts of the country, about
21 other road projects are in different stages of completion. These include the
Yola–Numan road, Aba–Owerri road, Owerri–Onitsha expressway, Oyo–Ogbomosho old
road, and the Gombe-Potiskum road. Many others are at different stages of
completion.
55. Government is also currently rehabilitating about 3,000 kms out of
the 3,505 km existing narrow gauge rail lines across the country. The
Lagos-Kano corridor will be completed this year, while the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri
corridor, which has equally commenced, will be completed by the end of 2013.
We have also commenced the construction of the Abuja–Kaduna segment of
the Lagos–Kano standard gauge rail lines, while the Lagos–Ibadan segment will
be awarded this year. The Itakpe–Ajaokuta–Warri standard gauge rail line is
nearing completion with the entire tracks completely laid.
56. To enhance sustainability in the rail sector, this Administration
has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with General Electric (GE) to
establish a locomotive assembly plant in the country. Our goal is to make
Nigeria a major hub in West and Central Africa.
57. Within the last 12 months, we completed the capital dredging of
the Lower River Niger from Warri (Delta State) to Baro (Niger State) to boost
our inland water transportation. This year, work will commence on the dredging
of the River Benue in addition to the construction of River Ports at Baro
(Niger State), Oguta (Imo State), and Jamata/Lokoja, (Kogi State). The Onitsha
River Port in Anambra State, equipped with modern cargo handling equipment, has
been completed and I shall be commissioning the project in the next few weeks.
58. The Aviation sector remains pivotal to our economic growth. Within
the last year, we have developed a road map for the restoration of decaying
facilities and infrastructure, some of which had not been attended to since
they were first constructed over 30 years ago. Currently, we are renovating
airports across the country and have begun the development of four new
international terminals at Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja. We have
also reviewed our Bilateral Air Service Agreements to ensure improved service
delivery, and more customer-friendly processes. We are working to ensure that
within the life of this Administration, the aviation sector in Nigeria will be
transformed into a world class and self-sustaining provider of safe, secure and
comfortable air transportation.
59. Globally, the role of women in governance has assumed great
significance. In Nigeria, it is also widely acknowledged that women who
constitute about half of the Nigerian population are great and invaluable
assets, in both the public and private spheres. On our part, we have
demonstrated serious commitment in further empowering women and projecting
their role in public life. Out of the 42 members of the Federal Executive
Council, 13 are women, heading major Ministries of Government.
60. Last week, I appointed the first female Chairman of the Federal
Civil Service Commission. In the Armed Forces, female cadets have been admitted
into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy, an institution that was hitherto
an exclusive preserve of men. The first set will graduate in 2016. This
year, we reached a significant milestone as the Nigerian Air Force produced the
first Nigerian female combatant pilot. Our administration will continue to
empower women and the girl-child as a focal point of our Transformation Agenda.
61. More than anything else, health matters. We are upgrading the
country’s tertiary health facilities to bring them up to international
standards. We have increased funding for health-related MDGs. We are also
committed to reducing maternal and infant mortality, and to eradicating polio
completely by 2014.
62. I want to reassure all Nigerians that this administration remains
committed to waging a sustained battle against the menace of corruption. In the
last one year, we have taken specific steps to reduce opportunities and avenues
for corruption, and to strengthen the capacity and integrity of our
institutions. For example, our ports reform programme has reduced the
number of agencies at the ports which hitherto frustrated the speedy clearance
of goods at the ports. We have also cleared the stretch of trailers and lorries
blocking the Apapa Expressway. We have put an end to the fertilizer and tractor
scam that once dominated the agricultural sector. Our review of the pension
payment system has also blown the whistle on corrupt practices which are now
being addressed.
63. Within the last one year, we set up a committee to identify
leakages and waste in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies. I am confident
that the implementation of the recommendations of that committee will help to
eliminate corruption channels within the system, and improve the efficiency of
the public service. In January, we announced a policy of deregulation in the
downstream sector, but this was misunderstood by naysayers and reduced narrowly
to a fuel subsidy removal initiative, whereas the policy was designed to
completely eliminate the grand corruption in the downstream sector, and create
the necessary incentives for private sector investment.
64. We have strengthened the leadership of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
(ICPC). Both agencies are being re-positioned for more effective service
delivery. We will continue to strengthen the law enforcement and
anti-corruption agencies for optimal performance. We will also need the
support of our courts. The courts have to do more.
65. Terrorism, a new menace, totally alien to our way of life and
culture, has reared its head and is posing a serious challenge. My
thoughts and prayers go to the victims of the terrorist attacks, and their
families.
66. As President, it is my solemn duty to defend the Constitution of
this country. That includes the obligation to protect life and property.
We are doing everything possible to check the menace of terrorism. In
this regard, we are determined to review some of the existing laws, to further
strengthen the national counter-terrorism strategy. Coordinated joint action
among our security agencies has now assumed greater importance. We have
developed a new security architecture to strengthen the security environment.
67. I wish to reassure every Nigerian that we will confront this
threat against our collective peace and security, and bring the perpetrators to
justice. We will confront the few misguided persons who falsely believe, that
through violence, they can impose their agenda of hate and division on this
nation of good people. We must confront all those who think they can derail us
by engaging in indiscriminate violence and mass murder, perpetrated in places
of worship, in markets and public places, against the media, and security
personnel. Nigeria is a nation of resilient people. We will never yield to the
forces of darkness. Nigeria will never, ever, disintegrate.
68. Let me end this address at the point where I began. What matters
most to all of us, is Nigeria. It is what binds us together. We have a duty to
be loyal to our country. If we believe this to be a sacred obligation, it will
not matter whether we are Christians or Muslims, or politicians, irrespective
of political parties or divide. It really will not matter whether we are civil
society agents, social activists or union leaders. What matters is
Nigeria. This nation exists because we are one. We must, therefore, remain as
one family, and work together to defend our country.
69. Within two years, it would be exactly 100 years since the Northern
and Southern protectorates were amalgamated and Nigeria was born. We need a lot
more introspection, even as we look forward. We must take steps to heal the
wounds of the past and work together, as a people with a shared destiny under
one flag. We must strengthen our collective memory, draw strength from our
history, and build bridges of unity to take our country to greater heights.
70. This is what we should do. And we must. As a starting point, we
must draw strength from our history and work to ensure that the labour of our
heroes past is not in vain. It is partly for this and other reasons, that I
have directed, as part of the activities marking today’s Democracy Day, that
all due processes should be initiated for the building of a Presidential Museum
in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. This Museum will document the lives
and times of Nigeria’s Presidents and Heads of Government since 1960, and
remind us, by extension, of the high points of our national history.
71. It is also in this regard that the Federal Government has decided
that late Chief M.K.O. Abiola be honoured, for making the ultimate
sacrifice in the pursuit of justice and truth. Destiny and circumstances conspired
to place upon his shoulders a historic burden, and he rose to the occasion with
character and courage. He deserves recognition for his martyrdom, and
public-spiritedness and for being the man of history that he was. We need
in our land, more men and women who will stand up to defend their beliefs, and
whose example will further enrich our democracy. After very careful
consideration, and in honour of Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s accomplishments and
heroism, on this Democracy Day, the University of Lagos, is renamed by the
Federal Government of Nigeria, Moshood Abiola University, Lagos. The Federal
Government will also establish an Institute of Democratic Studies and
Governance in the University.
72. Thank you.
73. God bless you.
74. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
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