FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH
President Muhammadu Buhari
BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2017
My dear
Nigerians,
October
1st remains a special date for all Nigerians as this marks the day when we
attained one of the most precious of human desires — freedom.
Over the years the country has gone through trials and tribulations, but
October 1st is always a day for celebrations.
It is a
day for thanks giving, reflection and re-dedication.
It is also
a day for remembrance. We should remind ourselves of the recent journey from
1999 – 2015, when our country happily returned to democratic rule.
However,
in spite of oil prices being an average of $100 per barrel and about 2.1m
barrels a day, that great piece of luck was squandered and the country’s social
and physical infrastructure neglected.
We were
left with no savings and huge infrastructure deficit.
The APC
Government’s Campaign rallying cry to restore security, re-balance the economy
and fight corruption was not all rhetoric.
The
country must first be secured. The economy must be re-balanced so that we do
not depend on oil alone. We must fight corruption which is Nigeria’s Number One
Enemy. Our Administration is tackling these tasks in earnest.
In the past two years, Nigeria has recorded appreciable gains in political
freedom. A political Party at the Centre losing elections of State Governor,
National Assembly seat and even State Assemblies to the opposition parties is
new to Nigeria. Added to these are complete freedom to associate, to hold and
disseminate opinions. Such developments clearly attest to the country’s growing
political development. But like all freedoms, this is open to abuse.
Recent
calls on re-structuring, quite proper in a legitimate debate, has let in highly
irresponsible groups to call for dismemberment of the country. We can not and
we will not allow such advocacy.
As a young
Army Officer, I took part from the beginning to the end in our tragic civil war
costing about 2m lives, resulting in fearful destruction and untold suffering.
Those who are agitating for a re-run were not born by 1967 and have no idea of
the horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we went through.
I am very
disappointed that responsible leaders of these communities do not warn their
hot-headed youths what the country went through. Those who were there should
tell those who were not there, the consequences of such folly.
At all
events, proper dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should take
place in a rational manner, at the National and State Assemblies. These are the
proper and legal fora for National debate, not some lop-sided, un-democratic
body with pre-determined set of objectives.
Government
is keeping up the momentum of dialogue with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to
keep the peace. We intend to address genuine grievances of the communities.
Government
is grateful to the responsible leadership of those communities and will pursue
lasting peace in the Niger Delta.
SECURITY
On
security, Nigerians must be grateful to our gallant Armed Forces for rolling
back the frontiers of Boko Haram’s terrorism, defeating them and reducing them
to cowardly attacks on soft and vulnerable targets.
Nigeria is
grateful to its neighbours and the international community for the collective
efforts to defeat this world-wide menace of terrorism.
Not even
the most organized and most equipped police and security forces in the world
can escape the menace of modern day terrorism, as we have seen in recent years
in Europe and other parts of the world.
But we are
not letting up. Our Armed Forces in an effort to enhance the operational
capability of troops of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE have established Mobile Strike
Teams in the North East. These will ensure the final push to wipe out the
remnants of Boko Haram.
In
addition, through targeted air strikes most of the leadership and identified
logistics bases and routes of the insurgents have been neutralized. The Armed
Forces have established a Naval presence in the Lake Chad Basin as part of the
coordinated military efforts to curtail the movements or re-emergence of the
sect in the area.
Government
is working round the clock to ensure release of the remaining Chibok girls, as
well as other persons in Boko Haram captivity. Government will continue to
support the Armed Forces and other security agencies to fight not only
terrorism, but kidnapping, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers violence and to ensure
peace, stability and security in our country.
ECONOMY
With
respect to the economy, the Government has remained pro-active in its
diversification policy. The Federal Government’s agricultural Anchor Borrowers
Programme, which I launched in November 2015, has been an outstanding success
with:
- N43.92 billion
released through the CBN and 13 participating institutions,
- 200,000 small
holder farmers from 29 states of the federation benefitting,
- 233,000 hectares of
farmland cultivating eight commodities, namely Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton,
soya-beans, Poultry, Cassava and Groundnuts, in addition to fish farming.
These
initiatives have been undertaken in close collaboration with the states. I wish
to commend the efforts of the Governors of Kebbi, Lagos, Ebonyi and Jigawa
States for their support to the rice and fertilizer revolutions.
Equally
commendable are contributions of the Governors of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Imo, Cross
River, Benue, Ogun, Kaduna and Plateau States for their support for the
Presidential initiative for palm oil, rubber, cashew, cassava, potatoes and
others crops.
With the
abundance of rainfall last year and this year, agriculture has enjoyed Divine
intervention.
Since
December last year, this Administration has produced over 7 million 50Kg bags
of fertilizer. Eleven blending plants with a capacity of 2.1 million metric
tons have been reactivated. We have saved $150 million in foreign exchange and
N60 billion in subsidy. Fertilizer prices have dropped from N13,000 per 50Kg
bag to N5,500.
Furthermore,
a new presidential initiative is starting with each state of the Federation
creating a minimum of 10,000 jobs for unemployed youths, again with the aid of
CBN’s development finance initiatives.
Power
remains a huge problem. As of September 12th, production of power reached an
all — time high of 7,001 Megawatts. Government is increasing its investment,
clearing up the operational and financial log jam bedeviling the industry. We
hope to reach 10,000 Megawatts by 2020.
Key
priorities include better energy mix through solar and Hydro technologies. I am
glad to say that after many years of limbo, Mambilla Power Project has taken
off.
Elsewhere
in the economy the special window created for manufacturers, investors and
exporters, foreign exchange requirements has proved very effective. Since
April, about $7 billion has come through this window alone. The main effect of
these policies is improved confidence in the economy and better investment sentiments.
The
country has recorded 7 consecutive months of lower inflation, Naira rate is
beginning to stabilize, appreciating from N525 per $1 in February this
year to N360 today. Broad-based economic growth is leading us out of recession.
Furthermore,
in order to stabilize the polity, the Federal Government gave additional
support to states in the form of:
- State Excess Crude
Account loans,
- Budget Support
Facility,
- Stabilization Fund
Release to state and local government as follows:
- N200 billion in
2015
- N441 billion in
2016
- N1 trillion in 2017
Altogether
totaling N1.642 trillion.
This was
done to enable states to pay outstanding salaries, pensions and small business
suppliers who had been all but crippled over the years.
In
addition, the Government’s current N500 billion Special Intervention Programme
is targeting groups through;
- Home Grown School
Feeding Programme,
- N-Power Job
creation to provide loans to small-scale traders and artisans,
- Conditional Cash
Transfer,
- Family Homes Fund
and
- Social Housing
Scheme.
CORRUPTION
Fellow
Nigerians,
We are
fully aware that fighting corruption was never going to be a straightforward
task. We expected corrupt elements to use any weapon to fight back, mainly
judicial obstruction and political diversion. But we are determined to
eradicate corruption from our body politic.
In this
fight, the Government has:
- Empowered teams of
prosecutors,
- Assembled detailed
databases,
- Accelerated the
recovery of stolen funds.
The
Administration’s new institutional reforms include:
- Enforcing Treasury
Single Account,
- Whistle-Blowers
Policy,
- Integrated Payroll
Personnel and Information System.
We have
signed multi-lateral cooperation agreements on criminal matters with friendly
countries. There are signs of increasing cooperation from the Judiciary.
Recently the Chief Justice of the Federation directed Heads of all our Courts
of first instance and Appeal to accelerate hearings of corruption cases and
dismiss any judicial officers found to have been compromised.
Justice
Salami has just been appointed to chair the Judiciary’s anti-graft committee.
Government expects a lot from this Committee.
I commend
the National Assembly for refocusing on its oversight committees. They should,
in addition, ensure swift passage of enabling corruption laws. But fighting
corruption is a bottom to top operation. I call on all Nigerians to combat
corruption at every turn. By not asking for and refusing to accept a bribe, by
reporting unethical practices or by blowing a whistle, together we can beat
corruption. The government for its part will work for accountability at all levels
– Federal, State and Local Governments. CHANGE will then be real.
As we
enter the second half of our term of office, we intend to accelerate progress
and intensify our resolve to fix the country’s challenges and problems.
Thank you
and a happy holiday to all of you.
God bless
our country.