| President Muhammadu Buhari releasing the Peace pigeon during the 56th Independence Anniversary and Presidential Change of Guards Parade in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN |
Separatists and their allies in the country got a clear response from President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday: their agitations will come to naught.
Buhari in a nation-wide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 56th Independence Anniversary declared: “No group can unlawfully challenge the authority of the Federal Government and succeed.”
“This Administration will not allow these mindless groups to hold the country to ransom,” he added.
He specifically mentioned Niger Delta militants who, he said, have been sabotaging oil and gas facilities for no just cause.
He wondered what they intend to achieve when they damage a gas line, for instance, “as a result of which many towns in the country including their own town or village is put in darkness?
“What logic is there in blowing up an export pipeline and as a result income to your state and local governments and consequently their ability to provide services to your own people is reduced?”
He said while his government is “fully sympathetic to the plight of the good people of Niger Delta and we are in touch with the state governments and leaderships of the region, it will not stand by and allow “a tiny minority of thugs to cripple the country’s economy.”
He also said talks are on between the federal government and Niger Delta elders to settle the grievances of the people of the region.
He cited the recent flagging off of cleanup of the Ogoniland as an indication of government’s goodwill.
Buhari also pointed at the success of the military in putting Boko Haram in check after several years of terrorising the Northeast.
His words:”Boko Haram was defeated by last December – only resorting to cowardly attacks on soft targets, killing innocent men, women and children.
“Nigerians should thank our gallant men of the Armed Forces and Police for rescuing large areas of the country captured by insurgents. Now, residents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, as well as several neighbouring states go about their daily business in relative safety. People can go to mosques, churches, market places in reasonable safety.
“Commuters can travel between cities, towns and villages without fear. Credit for this remarkable turn-round should go to our Armed Forces, the Police, various sponsored and private vigilante groups, the local traditional leaders. Security is a top to bottom concern and responsibility.”
He said similar long-running security challenges – herdsmen versus farmers, cattle rustling, kidnappings -are being tackled once and for all.
He said government is no less concerned about the economy and spoke of his appreciation of the pains Nigerians are going through on account of the economic recession.
“All countries face ups and downs. Our own recession has been brought about by a critical shortage of foreign exchange. Oil price dropped from an average of hundred USD per barrel over the last decade to an average of forty USD per barrel this year and last.
“Worse still, the damage perpetrated by Niger Delta thugs on pipelines sometimes reduced Nigeria’s production to below one million barrels per day against the normal two point two million barrels per day. Consequently, the naira is at its weakest, but the situation will stabilise.
“But this is only temporary. Historically about half our dollar export earnings go to importation of petroleum and food products! Nothing was saved for the rainy days during the periods of prosperity. We are now reaping the whirlwinds of corruption, recklessness and impunity.
“There are no easy solutions, but there are solutions nonetheless and government is pursuing them in earnest. We are to repair our four refineries so that Nigeria can produce most of our petrol requirements locally, pending the coming on stream of new refineries. That way we will save ten billion USD yearly in importing fuel.”
His administration, according to him, will do everything possible to restore the economy, boost value of the naira and end hunger in the land.
He said:”I know that uppermost in your minds today is the economic crisis. The recession for many individuals and families is real.
“For some it means not being able to pay school fees, for others it’s not being able to afford the high cost of food (rice and millet) or the high cost of local or international travel, and for many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after graduating from university or polytechnic.
“I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. All my adult life I have always earned a salary and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices.
“But let me say to all Nigerians today, I ran for office four times to make the point that we can rule this nation with honesty and transparency, that we can stop the stealing of Nigeria’s resources so that the resources could be used to provide jobs for our young people, security, infrastructure for commerce, education and healthcare.
“I ran for office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity and abundance for all. I remain resolutely committed to this objective. I believe that this recession will not last.”
He urged Nigerians not to let temporary problems to blind or divert them from the corrective course the government has charted for the nation.
According to him, the government has identified the country’s salient problems and is working hard at getting lasting solutions.
He vowed that government will not give up in fighting corruption as “it corrodes the very fabric of government and destroys society.
“Fighting corruption is key, not only to restoring the moral health of the nation, but also to freeing our enormous resources for urgent socio-economic development.
“In fighting corruption, however, the government would adhere strictly by the rule of law. Not for the first time I am appealing to the judiciary to join the fight against corruption.”
He said that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank have been mobilized to encourage local production of rice, maize, sorghum, millet and soya beans.
“Already farmers in 13 out of 36 states are receiving credit support through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Programme. Kebbi State alone this year is expected to produce one million tonnes of locally grown rice, thanks to a favourable harvest this year. As part of the 13 states, Lagos and Ogun are also starting this programme. Rice alone for example costs Nigeria two billion USD to import.
“The country should be self-sufficient in basic staples by 2019. Foreign exchange thus saved can go to industrial revival requirements for retooling, essential raw materials and spare parts. It is in recognition of the need to re-invigorate agriculture in our rural communities that we are introducing the LIFE programme.
“Government recognises that irrigation is key to modern agriculture: that is why the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources are embarking on a huge programme of development of lakes, earth dams and water harvesting schemes throughout the country to ensure that we are no longer dependent on rain-fed agriculture for our food requirements.
“In addition, government is introducing Water Resources Bill encompassing the National Water Resources Policy and National Irrigation and Drainage Policy to improve management of water and irrigation development in the country.
“We are reviving all the twelve River Basin Authorities, namely; Anambra – Imo, Benin – Owena, Chad Basin, Cross River, Hadejia – Jama’are, Lower Benue, Lower Niger, Niger Delta, Ogun – Osun, Sokoto – Rima, Upper Benue and Upper Niger.”
On the second plank of the government’s economic revival strategy which is centred on the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, he said the ministry “will lead and oversee the provision of critical infrastructure of power, road transport network and housing development.
“Power generation has steadily risen since our Administration came on board from 3324 megawatts in June 2015, rising to a peak of 5074 megawatts in February 2016.
“For the first time in our history the country was producing 5000 megawatts. However, renewed militancy and destruction of gas pipelines caused acute shortage of gas and constant drop in electricity output available on the grid.
“There has been during the period June 2015 to September 2016 big improvement in transmission capacity from five thousand five hundred megawatts to the present seven thousand three hundred megawatts.
“There were only two system collapses between June and December 2015, but due to vandalism by Niger Delta militants the over-all system suffered 16 system collapses between March and July 2016 alone.
“As I have said earlier, we are engaging with responsible leadership in the region to find lasting solutions to genuine grievances of the area but we will not allow a tiny minority of thugs to cripple the country’s economy.”
The president said that his government is going ahead with projects utilising alternate technologies such as hydro, wind, and solar to contribute to Nigeria’s energy mix.
“In this respect, the Mambilla Hydro project, after many years of delay is taking off this year. Contract negotiations are nearing completion with Chinese firms for technical and financial commitments.
“The project is to be jointly financed by Nigeria and the Chinese-Export-Import Bank. In addition, fourteen Solar Power Projects have had their power purchase agreements concluded. Hence the plan to produce one thousand two hundred megawatts of solar electricity for the country would be realised on schedule.
“And in line with the objective of government to complete all abandoned projects across the country, the Rural Electrification Agency’s projects needing completion are provided for in the 2016 Budget.
“Bringing electricity to rural areas will help farmers, small scale and cottage industries to integrate with the national economy.”
On roads, he said: “The sum of twelve billion naira was allocated to this sector in the 2015 Budget, not enough even to pay interest on outstanding unpaid claims.
“Notwithstanding the budgetary constraints, the current budget allocated two hundred and forty billion naira for highway projects against twelve billion naira in 2015. Many contractors who have not been paid for three years have now remobilized to sites. Seven hundred and twenty point five billion naira has so far been released this budget year to capital projects.”
Road now being worked on are: dualisation of Calabar – Itu Road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom States, dualization of Lokoja – Benin Road, Ehor – Benin city, Edo State, re-construction of outstanding sections of Benin – Shagamu Express way, Edo/Ogun States, expansion works on Lagos – Ibadan Dual carriageway, Ogun/Oyo States.
Other road projects include rehabilitation of Onitsha – Enugu Expressway, Anambra/Enugu States, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual carriageway, Abia/Rivers States, rehabilitation of Hadejia – Nguru Road, Jigawa State, dualization of Kano – Katsina Road, Kano State, dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road, Borno State, dualisation of Azare – Potiskum Road, Azare – Sharuri Road, Bauchi State, rehabilitation of Ilorin – Jebba – Mokwa – Birnin Gwari Road, Kwara State, construction of Oju/Lokoja – Oweto Bridge over River Benue, Benue State.
He said that other major highways will follow in due course.
He said: “Already contractors have recalled about nine thousand workers laid off and Government expects that several hundreds of thousands of workers will be reengaged in the next few months as our public works programme gains momentum.”
On railways, the president said: “We have provided our counterpart funding to China for the building of our standard gauge Lagos -Kano railway. Meanwhile, General Electric is investing two point two billion USD in a concession to revamp, provide rolling stock, and manage the existing lines, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Line. The Lagos-Calabar railway will also be on stream soon.
“We have initiated the National Housing Programme. In 2014 four hundred million naira was voted for Housing. In 2015 nothing. Our first budget this year is devoting thirty five point six billion naira. Much of the house building will be private – sector led but Government is initiating a pilot housing scheme of two thousand eight hundred and thirty eight units uniformly spread across the 36 states and FCT.
“We expect these units to be completed within 4 – 6 months. These experimental Nigeria House model Units will be constructed using only made in Nigeria building materials and components. This initiative is expected to reactivate the building materials manufacturing sector, generate massive employment opportunities and develop sector capacity and expertise.”
He said that the programmes he highlighted will revive the economy, restore the value of the naira and drive hunger from Nigeria.
He noted that Nigeria’s standing abroad has changed for the better in the last 18 months.
“We are no longer a pariah state. Wherever I go, I have been received with un-accustomed hospitality. Investors from all over the world are falling over themselves to come and do business in Nigeria.
“This government intends to make business environment more friendly because we cannot develop ourselves alone.”