59TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY SPEECH BY President Buhari

 

Buhari

59TH
INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

2. It is
   also a time for us, collectively, to:
3. Remember
   the sacrifices made by our Founders and great leaders past; by soldiers,
   by distinguished public servants; by traditional leaders, by our workers
   —- sacrifices on which Nigeria has been built over the 59 years since
   Independence in 1960; and
4. Rededicate
   ourselves to attaining the goals which we have set for ourselves: a
   united, prosperous and purposeful nation in the face of 21st century
   opportunities and challenges.
5. In the
   past four years, the majority of Nigerians have committed to Change for
   the Better. Indeed, this Administration was re-elected by Nigerians on a
   mandate to deliver positive and enduring Change – through maintaining our
   National Security; restoring sustainable and inclusive Economic Growth and
   Development; and fighting Corruption against all internal and external
   threats.
6. This
   Change can only be delivered if we are united in purpose, as individuals
   and as a nation. We must all remain committed to achieving this positive
   and enduring Change. As I stated four years ago, “Change does not just
   happen… We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office
   and public trust… simply put, to bring about change, we must change
   ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.”

7. Good
   Governance and Economic Development cannot be sustained without an
   enabling environment of peace and security. In the last four years, we
   have combatted the terrorist scourge of Boko Haram. We owe a debt of
   gratitude to our gallant men and women in arms, through whose efforts we
   have been able to achieve the present results. We are also grateful to our
   neighbours and allies – within the region and across the world – who have
   supported us on this front.
8. The
   capacity of our armed forces to defend our territorial integrity continues
   to be enhanced by the acquisition of military hardware as well as
   continued improvements in the working conditions of our service men and
   women.
9. The
   Ministry of Police Affairs has been resuscitated to oversee the
   development and implementation of strategies to enhance internal security.
   My recent assent to the Nigerian Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act has
   created a legal framework to support our Police with increased fiscal
   resources to enhance their law enforcement capabilities.
10. These
    initiatives are being complemented by the ongoing recruitment of 10,000
    constables into the Nigeria Police Force. This clearly demonstrates our
    commitment to arrest the incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping and other
    violent crimes across our nation.
11. We
    remain equally resolute in our efforts to combat militant attacks on our
    oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta and accelerate the Ogoni
    Clean-up to address long-standing environmental challenges in that region.
12. The
    recent redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission from the
    Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to the
    Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs underscores our commitment to enhance the
    living standards of our communities in the Niger Delta, through coordinated
    and appropriate programmes.
13. Our
    attention is increasingly being focused on cyber-crimes and the abuse of
    technology through hate speech and other divisive material being
    propagated on social media. Whilst we uphold the Constitutional rights of
    our people to freedom of expression and association, where the purported
    exercise of these rights infringes on the rights of other citizens or
    threatens to undermine our National Security, we will take firm and
    decisive action.
14. In this
    regard, I reiterate my call for all to exercise restraint, tolerance and
    mutual respect in airing their grievances and frustrations. Whilst the
    ongoing national discourse on various political and religious issues is
    healthy and welcome, we must not forget the lessons of our past – lessons
    that are most relevant on a day such as this.
15. The
    path of hatred and distrust only leads to hostility and destruction. I
    believe that the vast majority of Nigerians would rather tread the path of
    peace and prosperity, as we continue to uphold and cherish our unity.

16. This
    Administration inherited a skewed economy, where the Oil Sector comprised
    only 8% of Gross Domestic Product but contributed 70% of government revenue
    and 90% foreign exchange earnings over the years. Past periods of
    relatively high economic growth were driven by our reliance on Oil Sector
    revenues to finance our demand for imported goods and services.
    Regrettably, previous governments abandoned the residual Investment-driven
    Non-Oil Sector, which constituted 40% of Gross Domestic Product and
    comprised agriculture, livestock, agro-processing, arts, entertainment,
    mining and manufacturing activities that provide millions of jobs for
    able-bodied Nigerians and utilize locally available raw materials and
    labour for production.
17. To
    address this imbalance, our commitment to achieving economic
    diversification has been at the heart of our economic strategies under the
    Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which I launched on the 5th of April,
    2017.
18. This
    medium-term development plan charted the trajectory for our economy to
    exit from recession and return to the path of sustainable, diversified and
    inclusive growth for Nigerians. Pursuant to these reforms, the economy has
    recovered and we have had 9 successive quarters of growth since our exit
    from recession. The exchange rate in the last 3 years has remained stable,
    with robust reserves of US$42.5 billion, up from US$23 billion in October
    2016.
19. Learning
    from the mistakes of the past, this Administration is committed to
    responsibly managing our oil wealth endowments. We will continue to
    prudently save our oil income and invest more in the non-oil job-creating
    sectors.
20. In this
    regard, we are significantly increasing investments in critical
    infrastructure. Last year, capital releases only commenced with the
    approval of the Budget in June 2018. However, as at 20th June this year,
    up to N1.74 trillion had been released for capital projects in the 2018
    fiscal year.
21. Implementation
    of the 2019 Capital Budget, which was only approved in June 2019, will be
    accelerated to ensure that critical priority projects are completed or
    substantially addressed. The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National
    Planning has been directed to release N600 billion for Capital Expenditure
    in the next 3 months.
22. To
    maximise impact, we shall continue to increasingly welcome and encourage
    private capital for infrastructural development through Public Private
    Partnerships. Through the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, which I
    initiated in January this year, we are giving incentives to private sector
    inflow of over N205 billion in 19 Nigerian roads and bridges of 794.4km
    across in 11 States of the Federation.
23. As we
    push to diversify the economy, we still remain focused on optimizing the
    revenues generated from the oil and gas sector. We will, working with the
    Legislature, soon pass the Petroleum Industry Bill and amendments to the
    Deep Offshore Act and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act into law,
    to ensure Government obtains a fair share of oil revenues, whilst
    encouraging private sector investment.
24. We will
    also continue our fight against illegal bunkering of crude oil and the
    smuggling of refined petroleum products across our borders, including the
    diligent prosecution and conviction of offenders found guilty of these
    acts. Whilst Nigeria remains committed to free and fair continental and
    international trade, we will not hesitate to take all necessary steps to
    tackle illegal smuggling, transshipment and other predatory trade
    practices that destroy jobs in our country.
25. We are
    resolute in reforming the power sector. In August this year, we launched
    the Presidential Power Initiative to modernize the National Grid in 3
    phases: starting from 5 Gigawatts to 7 Gigawatts, then to 11 Gigawatts by
    2023, and finally 25 Gigawatts afterwards. This programme, in partnership
    with the German Government and Siemens, will provide end-to-end
    electrification solutions that will resolve our transmission and distribution
    challenges.
26. The
    programme will also look to localize the development and assembly of smart
    meters as well as the operations and maintenance capabilities of
    transmission and distribution infrastructure.
27. I am
    pleased with the improved inter-agency collaboration between the Ministry
    of Power and the regulators in the banking and power sectors to ensure
    that electricity sales, billings and collections are automated and become
    cashless.
28. These
    initiatives are important to ensure that the technical and collection
    losses in the sector are substantially reduced. I remain confident that
    Nigerians will have affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply in the
    not too distant future.
29. Our
    efforts to improve the power sector will complement other infrastructure
    investments projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Development
    Fund, which is investing in the Mambilla Power Plant project, as well as
    key economic road infrastructure such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,
    Second Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kano Expressway. The first set of these
    projects remain on track to be completed by 2022.
30. Our
    journey to food security and self-sufficiency is well underway. We have
    made remarkable progress in almost all segments of the agriculture value
    chain, from fertilizers to rice, to animal feed production. We shall
    sustain these policies to ensure additional investments are channeled,
    thereby creating more jobs in the sector. We must not go back to the days
    of importing food and thereby exporting jobs.
31. Our
    commitment to achieving macroeconomic stability and economic
    diversification, has been underscored by the merger of the Ministry of
    Finance with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
32. This
    combined Ministry has the important mandate to enhance the management of
    domestic and global fiscal risks; coordinate policies with the trade and
    monetary authorities; raise and deploy revenues to fund budgeted
    expenditure; and integrate annual budgets and medium-term fiscal
    strategies.
33. With
    this, our revenue-generating and reporting agencies will come under much
    greater scrutiny, going forward, as the new performance management
    framework will reward exceptional revenue performance, while severe
    consequences will attend failures to achieve agreed revenue targets.
34. I
    recently constituted an Economic Advisory Council to advise me on
    inclusive and sustainable macroeconomic, fiscal and monetary policies.
    This independent body will work with relevant Cabinet members and the
    heads of key monetary, fiscal and trade agencies to ensure we remain on track
    as we strive for collective prosperity. However, we are also committed to
    ensure that the inconvenience associated with any painful policy
    adjustments, is moderated, such that the poor and the vulnerable, who are
    most at risk, do not bear the brunt.
35. Our
    ongoing N500 billion Special Intervention Programme continues to target
    these vulnerable groups, through the Home-grown School Feeding Programme,
    Government Economic Empowerment Programme, N-Power Job Creation Programme,
    loans for traders and artisans, Conditional Cash Transfers to the poorest
    families and social housing scheme.
36. To
    institutionalize these impactful programmes, we created the Ministry for
    Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development which
    shall consolidate and build on our achievements to date. To the
    beneficiaries of these programmes, I want to reassure you that our
    commitment to social inclusion will only increase.
37. Our
    population growth rate remains amongst the highest in the world,
    presenting both challenges as well as opportunities. It is our collective
    responsibility to ensure that we provide adequate resources to meet the
    basic needs of our teeming youth.
38. Accordingly,
    we shall continue to invest in education, health, water and sanitation, as
    well as food security, to ensure that their basic needs are met, while
    providing them with every opportunity to live peaceful, prosperous and
    productive lives.

39. On
    fighting corruption, our institutional reforms to enforce the Treasury
    Single Account policy, introduce the Whistle-blowers’ Initiative, expand
    the coverage of the Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System as
    well as the Government Integrated Management Information System have saved
    billions of Naira over the last four years, and deterred the rampant theft
    and mismanagement of public funds that have plagued our public service.
40. The
    Ministry of Justice, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and the
    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will continue to address this
    menace. We are determined to ensure that transparency and good governance
    are institutionalized in public service.
41. We must
    commit to installing a culture of Good Governance in all we do. This
    Administration has fought against corruption, by investigating and
    prosecuting those accused of embezzlement and the misuse of public
    resources. We have empowered teams of prosecutors, assembled detailed
    databases of evidence, traced the proceeds of crimes and accelerated the
    recovery of stolen funds.
42. Furthermore,
    we partnered with our friends abroad to combat tax evasion, smuggling,
    terrorism and illicit financial flows. In June 2018, I assented to the
    Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, to provide a domestic legal
    framework for obtaining international assistance in criminal matters.
43. This
    measure has already strengthened our law enforcement agencies in obtaining
    evidence, investigating suspects and facilitating the recovery, forfeiture
    and confiscation of property implicated as proceeds of crime.
44. An
    example is the US$300 million recently identified as part of the Abacha
    money-laundering case, working closely with the Government of the United
    States of America. The Federal Ministry of Justice is working with the US
    Department of Justice to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding to
    expedite the repatriation of these funds.
45. The P
    & ID Arbitral Award has underscored the manner in which significant
    economic damage has been caused by the past activities of a few corrupt
    and unpatriotic Nigerians.
46. The policies
    that we are putting in place today are to ensure such criminal and
    unpatriotic acts do not go without consequences. Our renewed partnership
    with the 9th National Assembly will facilitate the swift passage of
    enabling laws that will institutionalize these anti-corruption efforts in
    our criminal justice system.
47. In this
    connection, I call upon our States to intensify their own efforts to
    instill greater fiscal transparency and accountability. And to ensure
    greater fiscal efficiency and optimum use of our very scarce resources.
48. The
    blight of Corruption is fighting back. Nevertheless, this is a battle that
    we shall see through and this is a war, which we shall win by the Grace of
    God.
49. I will
    also call upon all Nigerians, from every walk of life, to combat Corruption
    at every turn. By choosing to question and confront corrupt practices, by
    reporting unethical practices or through whistleblowing. Together, we can
    overcome corruption and will no longer be a country defined by corruption.
50. Fellow
    Nigerians, let me reiterate my call for unity across our dear nation.
51. Nigeria
    will emerge from our present challenges stronger and more resilient than
    ever – but only if all of us join hands to entrench Good Governance,
    foster Inclusive Economic Development, and defend and protect our Nation
    from all those who would wish us ill.
52. I thank
    you most sincerely and wish you a Happy Independence Anniversary.
53. May God
    bless you all, and may He continue to bless the Federal Republic of
    Nigeria.