2022 New Year Message: Challenges Will Not Derail My Plans For Nigeria – Buhari - FOREFRONT NG 2022, Buhari, challenges, My Programmes, New Year message, Nigeria

FG promises huge investment to tackle insecurity
Eyes ICT platforms for job creation

BY EDMOND ODOK – President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the legion of challenges in the country will neither distract his administration nor its resolve to make Nigeria safe and secure for the citizens as a prosperous nation.

This is as he pledged to continue massive investment in re-equipping the military to upgrade all its platforms and firepower needed to tackle the current security challenges the country is currently facing.

President Buhari admitted that the issue of security remains at the front burner of priority areas in the administration, but said the existing, as well as emerging challenges, were surmountable given the maximum attention coming from the government.

Making particular reference to his administration’s efforts at addressing the mounting insecurity in the country, the President said; “There is no doubt that the issue of security remains at the front burner of priority areas that this Administration has given utmost attention to.

“As a follow up to our promise to re-energize and reorganize the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police, it is on record that this Administration has invested heavily in re-equipping our military in line with upgrading the platforms and firepower required to tackle the current challenges being faced in the country.

“The net results of these efforts have been the number of insurgents and bandits who have willingly surrendered to our Security Forces and continue to do so through various channels and the Safe Corridor created for that purpose.”

The President, who spoke in his new year message to Nigerians, however, assured that the year 2022 would see the government leveraging ICT platforms to create jobs, and ensure its economic diversification programme not only creates an enabling environment but also provides required support in growing other emerging sectors.

According to him; “In the year 2022 and going forward, our Administration would intentionally leverage ICT platforms to create jobs, while ensuring that the diversification of our economy creates more support to other emerging sectors.

“I am proud to announce that several foreign investors are taking advantage of our ranking as one of the leading start-up ecosystems in Africa to invest in our digital economy,” the President said, adding that several foreign investors are already taking advantage of the country’s ranking as a leading start-up ecosystem in Africa to invest in the digital economy.

Happy that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) continues to record steady and positive growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic adverse effect on the global economy, President Buhari said; “We remain grateful to the Almighty God for yet another Year attained as a country, united by a common destiny and resolute in our determination to overcome the several challenges along the path to build the great and prosperous nation of our dream.

“I salute the courage and resilience of all Nigerians, which was evident in 2021 as this nation, like other countries of the world, faced significant challenges that occurred as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts to restore the global economy and social order.”

On the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war, he said, “We have given the utmost priority to fighting corruption and other related offenses which have been a bane to the growth and prosperity of our dear Nation.

“We have made major strides and breakthroughs through the innovative use of technology and forensics in the investigative and prosecutorial procedures with commendable results to show that the anti-corruption drive of our Administration is succeeding.”

However, he said credit must go to the anti-graft agencies for their dedication and accomplishments so far recorded, stressing that government would continue to give all the necessary support needed to effectively deliver on their mandates.

Not mincing words in acknowledging that insecurity remains a major challenge on all fronts for his administration, President Buhari said the government realizes that victory on the battlefield was one aspect of sustainable victory, and measures are being taken in other areas to effectively take care of the problems.

He said; “The persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country may have threatened to unravel the incremental gains achieved in the real sectors of the economy and in the administration’s overall objective to position the nation on the irreversible trajectory of sustainable growth and progress, but I assure you that we will remain resolute in our commitments and shall continue to press ahead with our programmes and plans.

“The path to nationhood is often fraught with unpredictable difficulties and challenges, and most tried and tested nations have often prevailed through dogged determination, resilience, concerted commitment to unity, and the conviction that the whole of the nation, standing together against all odds, is by far greater and would ultimately be more prosperous and viable than the sum of its distinguishable parts.

According to him, “We know that to fully win this war, we must also win the peace and real security lies in winning the hearts and minds of the affected citizens. To this end, working with our international partners and neighbouring countries, we would be deploying multi-faceted solutions that will be targeted at addressing human security at the grassroots, before it leads to insecurity.”

While remembering and honouring the gallant military, police officers, and other security agents who have lost their lives in the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation against both internal and external aggressors, the President assured their families that their sacrifices would not be in vain.

“We equally remember and commiserate with Nigerians who have lost loved ones as a result of insecurity in different parts of the country. Every life matters and every single death caused by any form of insecurity is a matter of personal concern to me both as a citizen and as the President of this great country.

“We remain fully committed to upholding the constitutional provisions that protect all Nigerians from any form of internal and external aggression.”

On the work done in reviving and repositioning the economy for sustainable growth, President Buhari said his administration will not relent in demonstrating a high level of resilience that has brought about significant achievements in spite of the turbulence that has characterized the economy and indeed the global economy.

“The lessons we have learned and keep learning from COVID-19 have encouraged us to intensify efforts to mitigate its socio-economic effects on our Nation. The major wins we have recorded can be clearly seen in Nigeria’s most recent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

“The 4.03% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2021 is indicative of the recovery being recorded in our economy and the confidence that is being shown through the policies that our Administration has put in place after the outbreak of the pandemic. We may also recall that this recent growth is closely followed by the 5.1% (year on year) growth in real terms recorded by Nigeria in Quarter 2 of 2021.

“This growth was one of the best recorded by any nation across Sub-Saharan Africa. The 5.1% growth at that time was and remains the highest growth recorded by the Nigerian economy since 2014. Despite the challenges we have faced as a Nation, the good news is that we have so far recorded four consecutive quarters of growth after the negative growth rates recorded in Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2020 due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Also describing the Petroleum Industry Act as a ‘legacy legislation’, the President said signing it into law on August 16, 2021, remains “a watershed moment in the history of our Nation, considering the massive positive impact the new Act would have on the economy.

“I would like to sincerely commend the 9th Assembly for the grit they demonstrated, succeeding where others have failed, and the cooperation that led to the completion of this process after almost two decades.

“Just like I stated during the investment trips and fora that I have attended recently, the legislation is expected to serve as a liberalizing force in the energy industry, and we are optimistic that this law will provide the much-needed legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the development of the energy sector, the host communities, and Nigeria as a Nation.

“Our objective to increase Liquefied Natural Gas exports and expand our domestic market is still very much at the forefront of some of the policies we would be pushing in the new year.”

President Buhari said the challenges notwithstanding, 2021 was a year in which his administration executed successfully, key projects, programmes, and initiatives to fulfill the promises made under the Security, Economy Anti-corruption (SEA) agenda, adding; “As we welcome 2022, let us, with hope, envision a year of continued progress against our combined challenges arising from security and socio-economic issues.

“As it is said, the past is but a story told, the future will still be written in gold. Let us be united in our fight to keep our Nation united against all odds and with gratitude, celebrate life in this new epoch.”