President Muhammadu
Buhari took on issues bordering on restructuring, pro-Biafra agitations in the
Southeast and the fight against corruption as Nigeria celebrates 57 years as a
nation state.
Here's the full text of
his speech:
My dear Nigerians,
October 1st remains a
special date for all Nigerians as this marks the day when we attained one of
the most precious of human desires — freedom.
Over the years the
country has gone through trials and tribulations, but October 1st is always a
day for celebrations.
It is a day for thanks
giving, reflection and re-dedication.
It is also a day for
remembrance. We should remind ourselves of the recent journey from 1999 – 2015,
when our country happily returned to democratic rule.
However, in spite of
oil prices being an average of $100 per barrel and about 2.1m barrels a day,
that great piece of luck was squandered and the country’s social and physical
infrastructure neglected.
We were left with no
savings and huge infrastructure deficit.
The APC Government’s
Campaign rallying cry to restore security, re-balance the economy and fight
corruption was not all rhetoric.
The country must first
be secured. The economy must be re-balanced so that we do not depend on oil
alone. We must fight corruption which is Nigeria’s Number One Enemy. Our
Administration is tackling these tasks in earnest.
In the past two years,
Nigeria has recorded appreciable gains in political freedom. A political Party
at the Centre losing elections of State Governor, National Assembly seat and
even State Assemblies to the opposition parties is new to Nigeria. Added to
these are complete freedom to associate, to hold and disseminate opinions. Such
developments clearly attest to the country’s growing political development. But
like all freedoms, this is open to abuse.
Recent calls on
re-structuring, quite proper in a legitimate debate, has let in highly
irresponsible groups to call for dismemberment of the country. We cannot and we
will not allow such advocacy.
As a young Army
Officer, I took part from the beginning to the end in our tragic civil war
costing about 2m lives, resulting in fearful destruction and untold suffering.
Those who are agitating for a re-run were not born by 1967 and have no idea of
the horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we went through.
I am very disappointed
that responsible leaders of these communities do not warn their hot-headed
youths what the country went through. Those who were there should tell those
who were not there, the consequences of such folly.
At all events, proper
dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should take place in a rational
manner, at the National and State Assemblies. These are the proper and legal
fora for National debate, not some lop-sided, un-democratic body with
pre-determined set of objectives.
Government is keeping
up the momentum of dialogue with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to keep the
peace. We intend to address genuine grievances of the communities.
Government is grateful
to the responsible leadership of those communities and will pursue lasting
peace in the Niger Delta.
SECURITY
On security, Nigerians
must be grateful to our gallant Armed Forces for rolling back the frontiers of
Boko Haram’s terrorism, defeating them and reducing them to cowardly attacks on
soft and vulnerable targets.
Nigeria is grateful to
its neighbours and the international community for the collective efforts to
defeat this world-wide menace of terrorism.
Not even the most
organized and most equipped police and security forces in the world can escape
the menace of modern day terrorism, as we have seen in recent years in Europe
and other parts of the world.
But we are not letting
up. Our Armed Forces in an effort to enhance the operational capability of
troops of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE have established Mobile Strike Teams in the
North East. These will ensure the final push to wipe out the remnants of Boko
Haram.
In addition, through
targeted air strikes most of the leadership and identified logistics bases and
routes of the insurgents have been neutralized. The Armed Forces have
established a Naval presence in the Lake Chad Basin as part of the coordinated
military efforts to curtail the movements or re-emergence of the sect in the
area.
Government is working
round the clock to ensure release of the remaining Chibok girls, as well as
other persons in Boko Haram captivity. Government will continue to support the
Armed Forces and other security agencies to fight not only terrorism, but
kidnapping, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers violence and to ensure peace,
stability and security in our country.
ECONOMY
With respect to the
economy, the Government has remained pro-active in its diversification policy.
The Federal Government’s agricultural Anchor Borrowers Programme, which I
launched in November 2015, has been an outstanding success with:
N43.92 billion released
through the CBN and 13 participating institutions,
200,000 small holder
farmers from 29 states of the federation benefitting.
233,000 hectares of
farmland cultivating eight commodities, namely Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton,
soya-beans, Poultry, Cassava and Groundnuts, in addition to fish farming.
These initiatives have
been undertaken in close collaboration with the states. I wish to commend the
efforts of the Governors of Kebbi, Lagos, Ebonyi and Jigawa States for their
support to the rice and fertilizer revolutions.
Equally commendable are
contributions of the Governors of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Benue,
Ogun, Kaduna and Plateau States for their support for the Presidential
initiative for palm oil, rubber, cashew, cassava, potatoes and other crops.
With the abundance of
rainfall last year and this year, agriculture has enjoyed Divine intervention.
Since December last
year, this Administration has produced over 7 million 50Kg bags of fertilizer.
Eleven blending plants with a capacity of 2.1 million metric tons have been
reactivated. We have saved $150 million in foreign exchange and N60 billion in
subsidy. Fertilizer prices have dropped from N13,000 per 50Kg bag to N5,500.
Furthermore, a new
presidential initiative is starting with each state of the Federation creating
a minimum of 10,000 jobs for unemployed youths, again with the aid of CBN’s development
finance initiatives.
Power remains a huge
problem. As of September 12th, production of power reached an all — time high
of 7,001 Megawatts. Government is increasing its investment, clearing up the
operational and financial log jam bedevilling the industry. We hope to reach
10,000 Megawatts by 2020.
Key priorities include
better energy mix through solar and Hydro technologies. I am glad to say that
after many years of limbo, Mambilla Power Project has taken off.
Elsewhere in the
economy the special window created for manufacturers, investors and exporters,
foreign exchange requirements has proved very effective. Since April, about $7
billion has come through this window alone. The main effect of these policies
is improved confidence in the economy and better investment sentiments.
The country has
recorded 7 consecutive months of lower inflation, Naira rate is beginning to
stabilize, appreciating from N525 per $1 in February this year to N360 today.
Broad-based economic growth is leading us out of recession.
Furthermore, in order
to stabilize the polity, the Federal Government gave additional support to
states in the form of:
*State Excess Crude
Account loans,
Budget Support
Facility,
Stabilization Fund
Release to state and local government as follows:
N200 billion in 2015
N441 billion in 2016
N1 trillion in 2017
Altogether totalling
N1.642 trillion.
This was done to enable
states to pay outstanding salaries, pensions and small business suppliers who
had been all but crippled over the years.
In addition, the
Government’s current N500 billion Special Intervention Programme is targeting
groups through;
Home Grown School
Feeding Programme,
N-Power Job creation to
provide loans to small-scale traders and artisans,
Conditional Cash
Transfer,
Family Homes Fund and
Social Housing Scheme.
CORRUPTION
Fellow Nigerians,
We are fully aware that
fighting corruption was never going to be a straightforward task. We expected
corrupt elements to use any weapon to fight back, mainly judicial obstruction
and political diversion. But we are determined to eradicate corruption from our
body politic.
In this fight, the
Government has:
Empowered teams of
prosecutors,
Assembled detailed
databases,
Accelerated the
recovery of stolen funds.
The Administration’s
new institutional reforms include:
Enforcing Treasury
Single Account,
Whistle-Blowers Policy,
Integrated Payroll
Personnel and Information System.
We have signed
multi-lateral cooperation agreements on criminal matters with friendly
countries. There are signs of increasing cooperation from the Judiciary.
Recently the Chief Justice of the Federation directed Heads of all our Courts
of first instance and Appeal to accelerate hearings of corruption cases and
dismiss any judicial officers found to have been compromised.
Justice Salami has just
been appointed to chair the Judiciary’s anti-graft committee. Government
expects a lot from this Committee.
I commend the National
Assembly for refocusing on its oversight committees. They should, in addition,
ensure swift passage of enabling corruption laws. But fighting corruption is a
bottom to top operation. I call on all Nigerians to combat corruption at every
turn. By not asking for and refusing to accept a bribe, by reporting unethical
practices or by blowing a whistle, together we can beat corruption. The
government for its part will work for accountability at all levels – Federal,
State and Local Governments. CHANGE will then be real.
As we enter the second
half of our term of office, we intend to accelerate progress and intensify our
resolve to fix the country’s challenges and problems.
Thank you and a happy
holiday to all of you.
God bless our country
