This press briefing is to expantiate further on a number of salient policy statements contained in the Independence Day broadcast of Mr. President and bring out in clear terms the import of these statements in the sure and steady Transformation Agenda of the administration.
The President gave due consideration to our collective past, acknowledging the commitment of the Founding Fathers of our nation and the labours of our heroes past towards building a virile and united nation in spite of divisions, differences in language, religion and culture. Thus emphasizing the need to strengthen our unity in spite of diversities inherent in our nationhood. He also enjoined Nigerians to rededicate themselves with unflinching optimism and resilience to the rebuilding of our nation despite our present challenges.
The key component of the Transformation Agenda is to engender social trust, good governance, credible elections, accountability and transparency, rule of law and guaranteed improved quality of life as the basis of the social contract between the Government and the citizens.
It is gratifying to note that today; elections in Nigeria are now nationally and internationally acclaimed to be free and fair. This outstanding achievement is an imperative to the enthroning of an enduring democracy.
The serious import of this, which may be easily taken for granted, is that under the old order, opposition candidates like Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko stood no chance of possible reelection even though they may be popular. The Goodluck Jonathan administration has undoubtedly reduced to the barest minimum the fear of the manipulation of electoral process in favour of the party in control at the centre.
For many years, government after government tried unsuccessfully to diversify the nation’s economy, which has for long been driven by the oil sector. For the first time, under President Jonathan, significant contribution to the GDP is coming from services, telecoms and especially agriculture. Agriculture today is being elevated as a sector that can provide the much desired transformation through transfer of wealth to rural communities, farmers and their families. The further success of the efforts in the agric sector will definitely provide several million jobs in the nearest future and halt the rural-urban migration with its attendant problems of urban overpopulation, overstretching of existing and limited infrastructural facilities and security challenges.
Confirming the increase input to GDP from non–oil sector, the Federal Ministry of Finance revealed that for the month of July 2012, revenue from Mineral Resources was N 646.47 Billion while non mineral resources contributed about N 178. 92 Billion or approximately 27%.
At this juncture, it is necessary to add that the Federal Government’s share of the Subsidy removal money is being re – invested responsibly in the areas of health care delivery, public transportationand infrastructural projects like the Benin – Shagamu road project costing about N 65 Billion.
There is no gainsaying that there is much improvement in the Power sector. Many citizens now have electricity for longer periods than before. This improvement may not have reached everywhere in the country in the same quantum or be sustained at the same level, but where we are today is by far a long distance from where we were 24 months back. This fact is self-evident.
The story of NIPPs, which in fact was the first attempt at establishing a Sovereign Wealth Fund, is that of a grand national success, especially following the positive results from the state of emergency declared in the Gas sector by the President a few months ago. By December 2012 with gas production in excess of 500 standard cubic feet, more modules from the NIPP plants will be able to provide much more electricity to the national grid. By December or early 2013, Nigeria will generate over 7000 Megawatts of electricity and many communities will enjoy uninterrupted power supply of 16 hours per day and more. The “days of lamentation” therefore in the power sector will soon be over.
This government has laid down a solid platform for economic growth and empowerment aided by fiscal discipline and reforms put in place by the economic management team.
This has now made Nigeria a preferred investment destination in Africa and as the President rightly stated in his speech, the country is favoured with over 20 percent of total Foreign Direct Investment in the sub region. This unique economic management regime has stimulated domestic growth leading to the revitalization of the manufacturing sector, which hitherto had been on the decline particularly in the last two decades. For the first time, Nigerian entrepreneurs have shown willingness to invest in the manufacturing sector, a development that will generate employment and further increase our aggregate GDP.
Security
As with other sectors, some opposition politicians erroneously canvassed that the problem of Boko Haram was of such magnitude that would overwhelm government. Even the Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, joined the team of doubting Thomases when he recently uncharitably stated that the problem of Nigeria will overwhelm President Jonathan. It is now obvious that this statement is blatantly untrue and not supported by facts on the ground. To the glory of God, the internal resilience, inherent strength, commitment and assiduity of President Jonathan coupled with the patriotism of members of the Armed forces, the police and security agencies; the war against Boko Haram is being won day by day.
In the face of severe economic problems, compounded by poverty, there is no doubt that the roadmap to success is assuredly through strident and fiscal discipline, deep-rooted reforms and sound and sustained economic policies. In economic parlance, however, it is a well known fact that there is always a lag period between institution of reforms and emergence of benefits direct reforms to the populace. A classic case is the economic downturn inherited by President Barack Obama of the United States, which inspite of the avalanche of resources in technology, human and materials available to him, is only just beginning to show recovery after nearly four years.
However, in the case of Nigeria, it is unarguable that improvements are already coming within our reach as evidenced by the progress in the power sector, security, agriculture, infrastructure development, transportation and aviation to mention but a few.
The true essence of the President’s Independent speech is anchored on assured hope for a better tomorrow.
In conclusion, it is clear that all aspects of our national life are being gradually transformed in a holistic manner resulting in the promotion of social trust; rule of law, sure and steady economic development and of definite improvement of security and well being of all Nigerians.Today we can safely say that the Transformation Agenda is solidly on course.