2014 Independence Day Broadcast by
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
Wednesday 1st October, 2014
Fellow Nigerians:1.
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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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!
5. In their mission, they have
maimed and molested. They have killed men, women and children,
rendering many children orphans and several women widows.
6.
They have made violence their ideology and are bent on destroying
our country. Dear countrymen and women, we will not allow them.
7.
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.
8.
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.
9.
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.
10.
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.
11. 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.
12.
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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20.
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.
21.
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.
22. 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.
23. To me, the National Conference is the greatest centenary gift to our country that we must cherish and sustain.
24.
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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28.
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.
29. 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.
30.
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.
31. 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.
32. 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.
33. 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.
34.
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.
35.
The success of these policies is already evident in the increased
value addition in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
36.
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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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.
42. Modern
hybrid schools are being provided for less privileged children across
the country, resulting in significant increase in the national school
enrolment figure.
43. 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.
44. 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.
45. 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.
46. 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.
47. 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.
48. 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.
49. 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.
50.
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.
51. 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.
52. 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.
53. 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.
54.
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.
55.
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.
56. 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.
57.
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.
58. We are one people from the womb of one Nigeria. We are brothers and sisters. We are one family.
We are Nigerians.59. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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