President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will not allow Niger
Delta militants to hold the country to ransom.
Buhari said this in his speech on the 56th independence anniversary of the
country.
He also sympathised with Nigerians over the current economic crisis,
saying it would not last for long because he had already taken steps to
revive the economy.
“A new insurgency has reared up its head in the shape of blowing up gas
and oil pipelines by groups of Niger Delta militants,” he said.
“This administration will not allow these mindless groups to hold the
country to ransom.
“What sense is there to damage a gas line 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?
“No group can unlawfully challenge the authority of the federal government
and succeed. Our administration 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 is known that the clean-up of the
Ogoniland has started. Infrastructural projects financed by the federal
government and post amnesty programme financing will continue.
“We have however, continued to dialogue with all groups and leaders of
thought in the region to bring lasting peace.”
He admitted that there was hardship in the land, but implored Nigerians
not to allow temporary problems to blind them from the “corrective course
his government had charted for the nation”.
He said his administration had identified the country’s salient problems
and was working hard at lasting solutions.
“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,” he said.
“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.”