He made the assertion during his Independence Day broadcast.
Below is the full text of the President's speech:
"Fellow Nigerians:
Today marks the 54th anniversary of our country’s
independence as a sovereign nation. This is also the tenth month of our
journey into a new century, having marked the centenary of our nation in
January this year.
The first one hundred years were marked by triumphs and
tribulations, benefits and burdens, opportunities and challenges. We made
some far reaching advances in building a strong, united and prosperous
nation. We also overcame the forces of disunity that culminated in a
debilitating civil war. We have also renewed our faith in one another,
and in our country. We have proven that we are truly a resilient nation.
In my address to the nation last year, I did emphasize
that we were in a sober moment in our country. We are still in that mood in
spite of the many accomplishments of our administration. Our sombreness has to
do with the crises of nationhood occasioned by the activities of terrorist
elements who have done the unimaginable to challenge our unity as a
people.
On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember
all the precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror
unleashed on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel
us to live our lives their way. They will not succeed!
In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have
killed men, women and children, rendering many children orphans and several
women widows.
They have made violence their ideology and are bent on
destroying our country. Dear countrymen and women, we will not allow
them.
Night after night, day after day, our security forces
continue to engage the terrorists in battle. My gratitude goes out to our armed
forces whose will has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any
other time, since the civil war.
Yet, they have
remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant challenge and mortal
danger. Driven by patriotic zeal, they are turning the tide by their prowess
and determination. As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to do all it takes to
enable them to keep on inflicting devastating blows at the heart of terror.
Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to avail our men and
women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.
This Administration is committed to making Nigeria safe for
all Nigerians, irrespective of our places of birth, how we worship God and our
political persuasion. To all those waging war against our country, I ask that
you lay down your arms and embrace peace.
To those who have genuine grievances, I affirm that Nigeria
will listen to you, if you bring your grievances to the table of dialogue. To
the good people of Nigeria, let me restate that our task of building a better
and greater country must not waver.
While we continue to
deploy our resources in the fight against the terrorists, we do recognize the
great toll the conflict is taking on our people.
This is why, to assist the afflicted, we have launched the
Victims Support Fund, an independent multi-sectoral charity, which will
aggressively solicit resources to augment Government’s statutory intervention, in
bringing succour to the injured, the displaced and the bereaved.
In partnership with Nigerian business leaders and
international partners, we have also introduced the Safe Schools Initiative
which is aimed at promoting safe environments for education nationwide,
starting with the North East region.
The Presidential Initiative for the North East, a
comprehensive programme to fast-track the economic restoration of this region,
which has been the epicentre of terrorist activity, has been set up.
Our overall objective is to do all we possibly can, to
sustain in the North-East, the momentum of economic advancement, which is
on-going in other parts of the country, despite the machinations of the
terrorists and their sponsors.
It should now be clear to anyone who was ever in doubt that
these terrorists do not mean well for anyone, of whatever religion or
dispensation. Their persistent choice of the weakest and most vulnerable in
society, for gruesome attack, provides an insight into their abnormal mind-set.
I urge every Nigerian to put aside political,
sectional or other parochial considerations, and support whole-heartedly the
efforts of the government and the military, in checking this evil.
We are grateful to the international community, and
especially our neighbours who are working closely with us in confronting this
challenge, for their increased partnership and solidarity. Our steady progress
in weakening the insurgency has certainly justified our cooperation.
Fellow Nigerians, in
my independence anniversary address last year, I informed you that we had taken
cognizance of the suggestion over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the
need to focus attention on rebuilding and strengthening the ligaments of our
union. It was in that regard that we announced the convening of a National
Dialogue on the future of our beloved country.
We have successfully delivered on that promise as we
established the 2014 National Conference headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi. After
months of deliberations, which did not come without its challenges, the
conference concluded its assignment and has handed its Report to me.
I have made a firm
commitment that we would act on the recommendations of the conference. This, I
have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee headed by the Honourable
Attorney General of the Federation to work out the modalities for implementing
the Report. Every promise I make, God willing, I will see to its fulfilment. I
assure you, we shall implement the report.
One major lesson which the 2014 National Conference has
taught us as a country is that, a multi-ethnic country like ours, must learn to
embrace painstaking dialogue until consensus is established.
To me, the National Conference is the greatest centenary
gift to our country that we must cherish and sustain.
Fellow Nigerians, our
54 year-journey as a nation has not been easy. There have been tough periods,
but the Nigerian spirit and the unflagging resilience of our people have seen
us through. We will continue to march forward to greater heights.
We have been able to
sustain a big, strong and influential country with a robust economy. We are
currently in our sixteenth year of uninterrupted democratic rule, daily
improving on the consolidation of our democratic process.
Our Administration
has made a commitment to ensure that we build and sustain a democratic
infrastructure anchored on free and fair elections. International and local
observers have attested to the positive evolution of electoral credibility and
we cannot afford to relent.
We will continue to ensure that the will of the
electorate prevails so that political leaders would be reminded at all times
that there is a day of reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the
polls. Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain
vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace,
security and transparency.
I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously
and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections.
Free and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to
our people.
My dear countrymen and women, occasions such as this present
an opportunity to thank God for our country and to report to you, on our
journey so far.
Our power sector reform is on course with the ultimate
objective of generating enough electricity to power our homes, industries and
businesses. We are making giant strides in the Agricultural Sector which we are
re-positioning to diversify our economy. We will continue to upgrade our
infrastructure to make life easier for all and create an enabling environment
for enterprise to flourish.
Over the last four years, the implementation of the Nigerian
Content Act in the Oil and Gas Sector has ensured major increase in the
participation of indigenous Oil and Gas companies in the industry. Several
critical infrastructure projects have been commissioned and commenced. The
level of indigenous asset ownership has greatly increased and utilisation of
Nigerian-owned and built assets such as marine vessels and rigs is being
progressively enforced.
There has been maximised local value addition by encouraging
the manufacture of equipment components and parts within the country.
There has also been massive growth in indigenous participation in the provision
of goods and services to the upstream sector from 10% to 60% within the last
four years.
Today, following the rebasing of our economy, every
international monitoring and ratings agency now acknowledges Nigeria as the
largest economy in Africa, with a Gross Domestic Product of five hundred and
ten billion dollars ($510 billion) which also places us as the 26th largest
economy in the world. This is progress.
Earlier in the year, we launched the Nigeria Industrial
Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme
(NEDEP) with the stated objective of fast tracking inclusive growth, job
creation, enterprise development and industrialisation.
The success of these policies is already evident in the
increased value addition in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
In line with our objective of encouraging the
production of made-in-Nigeria vehicles and making Nigeria a regional hub for
the automobile industry, a number of foreign auto manufacturers have
established plants in Nigeria, complementing the laudable efforts of our local
vehicle manufacturers who have also demonstrated great innovation and
competitiveness.
We have also launched a special support programme for Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises with an initial intervention fund of two hundred
and twenty billion naira (N220 b). This is in addition to the
Presidential Job Creation Board which I inaugurated recently with the charge to
create three million jobs annually.
In demonstration of our Administration’s commitment to
addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit, we have commenced the new mortgage
re-finance programme with the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Re-finance
Company. It is expected that, in addition to creating additional housing units
across the country, this initiative also represents a huge job creation
opportunity.
We have recorded notable success in the social sector.
Nigeria has been globally acknowledged for reducing extreme hunger by more than
half, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) formally presenting the
country with an award for achieving the Millennium Development Goal on Hunger
three years ahead of the 2015 target date set for the Millennium Development
Goals.
This progress is as a result of the deliberate policy of
government to increase capacity in our agricultural sector of which the first
step was to address and eliminate the graft in our fertilizer procurement
system and ensure that the product gets directly to the farmer. We are
expanding our irrigation infrastructure to ensure that our farmers have
sufficient water supply for dry season farming.
A benefit of these combined actions is that our national
food import bill has declined from 1.1 trillion naira (6.9 billion dollars) in
2009 to 684.7 billion naira (4.35 billion dollars) by December 2013, and
continues to decline.
Modern hybrid schools are being provided for less privileged
children across the country, resulting in significant increase in the national
school enrolment figure
In order to further
enhance access to education at the tertiary level, fourteen new Federal
Universities have been established; and, to encourage persons of exceptional
abilities, our Administration has also introduced a Presidential Scholarship Scheme
based strictly on excellence and merit.
On infrastructure, we are building roads, bridges, and new
rail lines to make it easier to traverse Nigeria and increase the integration
of our people and our ability to do business with each other. In this regard,
we have commenced the process of building the Second Niger Bridge. The
Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States, will
significantly reduce travel time by road between Northern and Southern Nigeria.
The on-going dredging of the River Niger up to Baro in Niger State is opening
up large parts of the Nigerian hinterland to maritime activity.
The Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro-electric power projects are
on course, and the Kashimbilla dam which we started a few years ago, is nearing
completion. The successful privatisation of our power sector will in the long
run enhance industrial growth. Policies such as this and others have raised
Nigeria to the enviable status of being the number one recipient of Foreign
Direct Investment in Africa in the past year.
The result of this infrastructure drive is that two and a
half million jobs have been created over the past two years. This is a record,
which we are committed to improve upon to continue to provide jobs for our
youth.
An unprecedented number of Airports across the country, are
not only being reconstructed at the same time, but being re-equipped and
reassessed with emphasis on maintaining global standards.
Fellow Nigerians, the goals we set to achieve for our
country involve expanding the frontiers of economic freedom. Let us therefore
unite with one heart and one mind. All our people must have access to the good
things of life. All our people must be empowered to pursue the gift of life
with happiness. This is our country; we must build it for our common posterity.
As we move into an election year, desperate moves to
overheat the polity are becoming a regular occurrence. Our political
leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not translate
to the destruction of the polity.
The contest for the leadership of our country must yield
good governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank
higher than our individual ambitions.
We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria
within democratic parameters. The protection of individual rights, liberty,
equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a
sound economy must be our goal.
I cannot end this
address without commenting on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which was
sadly brought into our country recently. My directives to the Federal Ministry
of Health saw the ministry leading the charge in curtailing the spread of this
deadly scourge and managing its impact. This is how it should be: swift,
effective and comprehensive action in defence of citizens.
It must be pointed out that the Ebola battle is still raging
elsewhere in our sub-region. I therefore enjoin all our citizens to continue to
adhere strictly to all the guidelines that have been given by our health
officials to keep Ebola out of our country.
I appreciate and welcome the spirit of collaboration, unity
and partnership with which we confronted the threat of the Ebola Virus
Disease. I thank all Nigerians for working together to prevent what could
have become a major epidemic. I particularly thank the medical personnel,
some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.
This is the spirit which we must demonstrate at all times as
we face up to our challenges as a nation: one people, united by a common
resolve, in the pursuit of one common national interest.
As we look forward to another year in our national life, I am
more than confident that our tomorrow will be better than our yesterday and
today. Nigeria has got the human and material resources to excel and we shall
lead the way in that journey to our manifest destiny.
Fellow countrymen, brothers and sisters, in all our plans,
and in all our words and our actions, we must stand together in love and unity,
as one people under God.
We are one people from the womb of one Nigeria. We are
brothers and sisters. We are one family. We are Nigerians.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria".
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