Full text of 2014 Independence Day broadcast by President Goodluck Jonathan
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 raped.
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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