Jonathan’s Declaration: Things are Getting Better

President Goodluck Jonathan

Monday took stock of what has
been achieved within one year
of his administration. His
conclusion: Nigeria is making
progress in spite of the
numerous challenges
confronting her.
A major highlight of his address
to mark Democracy Day was
the renaming of the University
of Lagos after the late
Bashorun MKO Abiola, the
acclaimed winner of annulled
June 12, 1993 election, who
died in military custody while
trying to claim the mandate.
The school will now be known as
the
Moshood Abiola University
of Lagos, although students of
the institution protested the
name change immediately after
the broadcast.
Jonathan identified the
problems of the country as
insecurity, unemployment, lack
of will to develop the potentials
which abound in the country,
insatiable appetite for imported
good "and the propensity of
few of the elite class to resort
to foul language and violence in
their quest for power".
But he assured Nigeria that the
country was being steered in
the right direction.
He gave a sector-by-sector
assessment of economy,
promising that in no distant
time, visible changes that will
touch on the life of the
average Nigerian would be felt.
The president said the credit
rating of the country has been
stable in the face of global
downturns which has adversely
affected other economies.
He said for the first time in
Nigeria, the external reserves
this month hit an all time high
of $37.02 billion while
commitments to foreign direct
investment into the country
have hit N6.6 trillion which
described as an indication of
the confidence that investors
globally have in the economy.
“There are challenges, yes, but
we are working hard to
address those challenges. And,
by God’s grace, we will succeed.
My confidence is bolstered by
the results which we have
achieved in different sectors
within the last twelve months.
Our democracy is stable. Its
foundation is strong and firm.
Its future is bright.
“We need a lot more
introspection, even as we look
forward. We must take steps to
heal
the wounds of the past
and work together, as a people
with a shared destiny under
one flag. We must strengthen
our collective memory, draw
strength from our history, and
build bridges of unity to take
our country to greater
heights,” Jonathan charged.
He noted that his
administration was
strengthening agencies to fight
corruption and had already
moved to amend the laws to
enable them discharge their
functions with more effect,
adding that checks instituted
by his administration had led to
saving N100 billion from
wasteful spending while efforts
are on to sustain the fight.
On the ports and business
environment, Jonathan said
that reform has led to
reduction of agencies at the
ports from 14 to seven while
new measures have led to
reduction in the time goods
were cleared from months to
seven days.
He
added that the aim was to
attain 48 hours clearing period
which was the global standard.
The ports, he saidd, now work
24 hours a day.
“I want to reassure all Nigerians
that this administration
remains
committed to waging a
sustained battle against the
menace of corruption. In the
last one year, we have taken
specific steps to reduce
opportunities and avenues for
corruption, and to strengthen
the capacity and integrity of
our institutions. For example,
our ports reform programme
has reduced the number of
agencies at the ports which
hitherto frustrated the speedy
clearance of goods at the
ports.
We have also cleared the
stretch of trailers and lorries
blocking the Apapa Expressway.
We have put an end to the
fertilizer and tractor scam that
once dominated the agricultural
sector. Our review of the
pension payment system has
also blown the whistle on
corrupt practices which are
now being addressed.
“Within the last one year, we
set up a committee to identify
leakages and waste in the
Ministries, Departments and
Agencies. I am confident that
the implementation of the
recommendations of that
committee will help to eliminate
corruption channels within the
system, and improve the
efficiency of the public service.
In January, we announced a
policy of deregulation in the
downstream sector, but this
was misunderstood by
naysayers and reduced
narrowly to a fuel subsidy
removal initiative, whereas the
policy was designed to
completely eliminate the grand
corruption in the downstream
sector, and create the
necessary incentives for
private sector investment.
“We have strengthened the
leadership of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) and the Independent
Corrupt Practices Commission
(ICPC). Both agencies are being
re-positioned for more
effective service delivery. We
will continue to strengthen the
law enforcement and anti-
corruption agencies for optimal
performance. We will also need
the support of our courts. The
courts have to do more,” he
explained.
Jonathan who paid tributes to
the Nigerian military for
subjugating themselves to civil
authority unlike in some smaller
African countries which has now
seen to an unbroken 13 years
of civil rule and a further proof
of the confidence in democracy
in spite of the perceived
differences.
In an apparent justification of
the naming of University of
Lagos after Abiola, he said:
“When General Abdusalami
Abubakar handed over the
baton of authority to President
Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999, it
was a turning point for Nigeria.
We did not arrive at that
turning point by accident.
Many Nigerians laid down their
lives for the transition to
democracy to occur. Some
were jailed. Media houses were
attacked and shut down. But
the people’s resolve was firm
and unshakable.
This is what we remember. This
is what we celebrate. On this
day, I recall especially the
martyrdom of Chief M. K. O.
Abiola, whose presumed victory
in the 1993 Presidential
election, and death, while in
custody, proved to be the
catalyst for the people’s pro-
democracy uprising. The
greatest tribute that we can
pay to him, and other departed
heroes of Nigeria’s democracy,
is to ensure that we continue
to sustain and consolidate our
democratic institutions and
processes, and keep Hope
alive.”
He appealed to Nigerians to
have faith in his leadership as
he was committed to making
the necessary changes that will
turn the fortunes of Nigeria,
pointing out that he promised
Nigerians free and fair elections
in 2011 and achieved it which
had repositioned the country in
the comity of nations and will
likewise deliver on any of the
promises he has made to the
nation.
On the remaining leg of
addressing electoral violence,
he said his cabinet had taken
decisions on the
recommendations of the White
paper on the matter and will
soon expedite action on
Electoral Offences Tribunal as a
way to check the violence
which attends elections.
On the security challenges, he
said things took the nation by
surprise but stated that he has
built
and will continue to
improve the security
infrastructure of the country
so that the security agencies
would be better able to deal
with the situation, adding: “I
want to reassure you that we
are making progress. But we
can also do a lot more. We
must. And we will.”
He enumerated measures he is
taking on the economic front,
particularly reforms in the
agricultural sector where he
aims to make Nigeria not only
self sufficient in food production
but as
net exporter of finished
and processed agricultural
good.
“Today, progress has been
made. The country’s credit
rating is positive, in contrast
with many nations being
downgraded. In 2011, our
economy grew by 7.4 per cent.
As at mid-May 2012, our
foreign exchange reserves had
risen to $37.02 billion, the
highest level in 21 months. We
have stabilized and improved
our fiscal regime. We brought
the fiscal deficit down to 2. 85
per cent of GDP from 2.9 per
cent in 2011. We reduced
recurrent expenditures from 74
per
cent to 71% and reduced
domestic borrowing from N852
billion in 2011 to N744 billion in
2012. We cut out over N100
billion of non-essential
expenditure and increased our
internally generated revenue
from N200 billion to N467 billion.
“For the first time in over a
decade, we now have a draft
Trade Policy which provides a
multi-dimensional framework to
boost our trade regime and
facilitate the inflow of
investments. We have
generated over N6.6 trillion
worth of investment
commitments. The total value of
our trade is also much higher
than the value estimated the
previous year due to deliberate
government policies. To
facilitate the ease of doing
business in Nigeria, we have a
policy in place to make visa
procurement easier for foreign
investors, with safeguards to
prevent abuse.
“The goal of our administration
is to ensure that every
Nigerian can find gainful
employment. Given my
dissatisfaction with the
prevailing unemployment
situation in the country, our
administration has embarked on
an ambitious strategy of
creating jobs and job-creators
through the launch of several
initiatives mainly targeted at
the youths and women.
“In October 2011, we launched
the Youth Enterprise with
Innovation in Nigeria
Programme, designed to
encourage entrepreneurship
and provide grants for small
and medium scale enterprises.
Over 1,200 Nigerian youths
have benefitted from this
initiative.
We have also launched the
Public Works Women and Youth
Empowerment Programme,
which is designed to employ
370, 000 youths per annum,
with 30 per cent of the jobs
specially reserved for women.
Let me make it clear here that
our YouWIN programme is
designed to nurture and
mentor young entrepreneurs
to become major players,
employers and wealth creators
in business.
“We are gradually reducing the
footprints of government in
business activities through
privatization, liberalization and
deregulation based on our
recognition that the private
sector should be the engine of
growth in our economy. To
ensure that the private sector
is well positioned for this task,
our administration has
embarked on key structural
reforms in the Power Sector
and at the Ports.
“To improve reliable power
supply, our administration is
judiciously implementing the
Power Sector Roadmap, which is
at
an advanced stage, to fully
privatize power generation and
distribution while reducing the
cost of electricity to rural
households and the urban poor.
“The commitment of this
Administration to the provision
of regular and uninterrupted
power supply remains strong
and unwavering. We all agree
that adequate and regular
power supply will be the
significant trigger to enhance
this nation’s productive
capacity and accelerate
growth. It is for this reason
that I remain optimistic that
the reforms we have initiated,
the decisions we have taken so
far and the plans we intend to
faithfully prosecute will yield
the desired results,” he said.
While insisting on the
privatisation of the power
sector, he reasoned that it was
right for
them to repair all the
power stations and the
transmission lines before
handing over to private
investors through strict
adherence to the privatisation
policy of the regime.
“Our approach is two-pronged:
First, is the immediate repair of
power plants, as well as
transmission and distribution
infrastructure in the short
term. The second is the
building of institutions and the
provision of enablers to attract
investors. We have revived and
are accelerating the completion
of the National Integrated
Power Projects. We are also
building about 4000km of
transmission lines and hundreds
of substations.
We have completed the design
for the construction of both
Mambilla and Zungeru Hydro
power plants which will add
about 3, 000 MW to the
national grid.
“By mid 2010, the national
power output was about 2, 800
MW. By the end of 2011, we
reached a peak of more than 4,
000
MW. A National Gas
Emergency Plan has also been
launched to redress the
problem of gas supply which
arose essentially due to poor
planning.
“For long-term power
availability, we have
strengthened a number of key
institutions such as the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory
Commission, the Bulk Trader,
the National Power Training
Institute of Nigeria, and others.
We
are also working with the
World Bank to provide
guarantees for gas and power
providers. The signing of MOUs
with World Leaders in power
equipment – General Electric of
USA and Siemens of Germany as
well as US and China Exim Banks
for financial investment, is a
clear indication of the level of
confidence which the world
investment community has in
our power sector road map.
“In the Oil and Gas Sector, our
Administration has charted a
new course that will ensure
enduring transparency and
accountability. We are re-
drafting the Petroleum Industry
Bill (PIB) to ensure it meets the
aspirations of all Stakeholders
given the current realities and
future expectations in the
global energy landscape. Work
on the PIB will be concluded in
June 2012 and formally
submitted to the National
Assembly. Additionally, Special
Task Forces dealing with
Governance and Control,
Petroleum Revenue and National
refineries
are finalizing their
work to ensure probity across
the oil and gas sector, and self-
sufficiency
in refined petroleum
products.
“In the Downstream Sector, the
Nigerian Content Development
Act, since inception in 2010, has
boosted the local production of
line pipes, in-country fabrication
tonnage
and engineering
support services. As a result,
retained in-country spend has
grown from approximately US
$1bn to a current estimate of
US$4bn, and over US$3 billion
Foreign Direct Investment has
been brought in for upgrading
and building new yards,
altogether generating over
120,000 direct and indirect
jobs,” he explained.
He said the policy of the
agriculture was “directed at
promoting local production,
substituting for imported foods,
and adding value to our locally
produced crops. We are
recording successes already.
Government’s policy to ensure
rice self-sufficiency by 2015 is
already paying off. New rice
mills are being established by
the private sector to mill locally
produced rice.
Ebony Agro Industries located in
Ikwo Local Government Area of
Ebonyi State has rolled out its
high quality parboiled rice. In
Kano, Umza rice mill has taken
off and can hardly meet
demand, while in Benue State
Ashi rice has hit the market.
Consumers are buying more of
Abakaliki and Ofada rice too”.

Source: Thisday Newspaper