Dear Compatriots,
I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the year 2014
which promises to be a momentous one for our country for several reasons,
including the fact that it is also the year of our great nation’s centenary
celebrations. I join you all in giving thanks to
God Almighty for guiding us and our beloved nation safely through all the
challenges of the outgoing year to the beginning of 2014.
Exactly 100 years ago today, on
January 1, 1914, the British Colonial authorities amalgamated what was then the
separate Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria, giving birth
to the single geopolitical entity known as Nigeria. For us therefore,
today is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a century of
national existence and the beginning of another. It is a moment for sober
reflection and for pride in all that is great about Nigeria.
Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may have
confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed country, a country of
gifted men and women who continue to distinguish themselves in all spheres of
life, a country whose diversity remains a source of strength. We pay
tribute today, as always to our founding fathers and mothers, and all the
heroes and heroines whose toil and sweat over the century made this country
what it is today.
As I noted, a few days ago, the amalgamation of 1914 was certainly
not a mistake but a blessing. As we celebrate 100 years of nationhood, we
must resolve to continue to work together as one, united people, to make our
country even greater.
I assure you that our administration remains fully committed to
the progressive development of our country and the consolidation of peace,
unity and democratic governance in our fatherland. Despite several continuing domestic
and global challenges, for us in Nigeria, the year 2013 witnessed many positive
developments which we will strive to build upon in 2014.
We have diligently carried forward
the purposeful and focused implementation of our agenda for national transformation
in priority areas such as power, the rehabilitation and expansion of national
infrastructure, agricultural development, education and employment generation.
You may recall that our 2013 Budget
was on the theme, “Fiscal Consolidation with Inclusive Growth”, and I
emphasized the need for us to “remain prudent with our fiscal
resources and also ensure that the Nigerian economy keeps growing and creating
jobs”. I am pleased to report that we have stayed focused on this goal.
Our national budget for 2014 which is now before the National
Assembly is specifically targeted at job creation and inclusive growth. We are
keenly aware that in spite of the estimated 1.6 million new jobs created across
the country in the past 12 months as a result of our actions and policies, more
jobs are still needed to support our growing population. Our economic
priorities will be stability and equitable growth, building on the diverse
sectors of our economy.
In 2013, we commenced implementation
of the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) aimed at industrializing
Nigeria and diversifying our economy into sectors such as agro-processing,
light manufacturing, and petrochemicals. We have also negotiated a strong
Common External Tariff (CET) agreement with our ECOWAS partners which would
enable us to protect our strategic industries where necessary.
I am pleased to note that as a result of our backward integration
policies, Nigeria has moved from a country that produced 2 million metric
tonnes of cement in 2002, to a country that now has a capacity of 28.5 million
metric tonnes. For the first time in our history, we have moved from being a
net importer of cement to a net exporter. Foreign direct investment into
Nigeria has also been strong. In fact, for the second year running, the UN
Conference on Trade and Development has named Nigeria as the number 1
destination for investments in Africa.
We
are witnessing a revolution in the agricultural sector and the results are
evident. We
have tackled corruption in the input distribution system as many farmers now
obtain their fertilizers and seeds directly through an e-wallet system. In
2013, 4.2 million farmers received subsidized inputs via this programme. This
scheme has restored dignity to our farmers.
Last year we produced over 8 million
metric tonnes of additional food; and this year, inflation fell to
its lowest level since 2008 partly due to higher domestic food production.
Our food import bill has also reduced from N1.1 trillion in 2011, to N648 billion
in 2012, placing Nigeria firmly on the path to food self-sufficiency.
The sector is also supporting more jobs. Last year, we
produced 1.1 million metric tonnes of dry season rice across 10 Northern
states; and over 250,000 farmers and youths in these States are now profitably
engaged in farming even during the dry season.
This Administration is also developing our water resources which are key
for both our food production and job creation goals. In 2013, we completed the
construction of nine dams which increased the volume of our water reservoirs by
422 million cubic metres. Through our irrigation and drainage programme,
we have increased the total irrigated area by over 31,000 hectares creating
jobs for over 75,000 farming families while increasing production of over
400,000 metric tons of assorted irrigated food products.
Fellow Compatriots, I have always believed that the
single greatest thing we can do to ensure all Nigerians realize their potential
and play a full part in our nation’s future, is to invest in education. The
education of our young people is a key priority for this Government. We take
this responsibility very seriously and I urge all other stakeholders in the
sector to recognize the national importance of their work, and to help advance
the cause of education in our nation.
Between 2007 and 2013, we have almost tripled the allocation for
education from N224 billion to N634 billion – and we will continue to
vigorously support the sector. We have improved access to education in the
country with the construction of 125 Almajiri schools, and the establishment of
three additional Federal Universities in the North, bringing to twelve, the
number of universities established by this administration.
In 2013, we rehabilitated 352 laboratories and constructed 72 new
libraries in the Federal Unity Schools; and also rehabilitated laboratories of
all the 51 Federal and State polytechnics across the country.
In the Health sector, we are building strong safety nets and
improving access to primary health care under the Saving
One Million Lives programme.
In 2013, we recruited 11,300 frontline health workers who were deployed to
under-served communities across the country. Over 400,000 lives have been saved
through our various interventions. We have reached over 10,000 women and
children with conditional cash transfer programmes across 8 States and the FCT
and we intend to scale up this successful initiative.
Our national
immunization coverage has exceeded 80%. And
for the first time in the history of the country
there has not been any transmission of the Type-3 Wild Polio virus for more
than one year. We have also eradicated the guinea
worm that previously affected the lives of over 800,000 Nigerians yearly. In
tertiary health care, we upgraded medical facilities across the country. Two of
our teaching hospitals – the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu,
and the University College Hospital in Ibadan – commenced open heart surgeries
this year after the installation of new facilities.
Fellow Nigerians, I have dwelt on some of our administration’s
achievements in 2013 to reassure you that we are working and results are being
achieved on the ground. As we enter our Centennial year, there is still much
work ahead. We are determined to sustain our strong macroeconomic fundamentals,
to strengthen our domestic institutions, and to invest in priority sectors.
These investments will create more jobs for our youth. Government will at the
same time, continue to scale-up investments in safety nets and the MDGs to take
care of the poor and the vulnerable so that they too can share in our growth
and prosperity.
In 2014, we will continue to
prioritize investments in key sectors such as infrastructure development,
power, roads, rail transportation and aviation. In the past year, the Federal
Government completed the privatization of four power generation companies and
10 power distribution companies. We are also in the process of privatizing 10
power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).
We shall boost investments in
transmission to ensure power generated is properly evacuated and distributed.
In this regard, we have already mobilized an additional $1.5 billion for the
upgrade of the transmission network in 2014 and beyond. Government will
also strengthen regulation of the sector, and closely monitor electricity
delivery to increase this beyond 18 hours per day. We will complete the
privatization of the NIPP projects, accelerate work on our gas pipeline
infrastructure and also continue to invest in hydro-electric power and clean
energy as we monitor the effects of climate change on our economy.
Our administration believes that the cost of governance in the
country is still too high and must be further reduced. We will also take
additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages. We have worked
hard to curb fraud in the administration of the pension system and the
implementation of the petroleum subsidy scheme. We have introduced a Pensions
Transition Arrangement Department under a new Director-General. This department
will now ensure that those of our pensioners still under the old scheme receive
their pensions and gratuities, and are not subjected to fraud. Prosecution of
all those involved in robbing our retired people will continue. The Petroleum
Subsidy Scheme is also now being operated under new strict guidelines to tackle
previous leakages in the scheme and prevent fraud.
Foreign travel by government personnel will be further curtailed.
This directive shall apply to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the
Federal Government. Our strategy to curb leakages will increasingly rely on
introducing the right technologies such as biometrics and digitizing government
payments.
I am therefore pleased to inform you that we shall complete the
deployment of the three electronic platforms in 2014 – namely, the Treasury
Single Account (TSA),
the Government Integrated Financial Management Information
System (GIFMIS) and the Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS)
– which are all geared towards improving efficiency and transparency in our
public finances. Through these reforms, we have already saved about N126
billion in leaked funds and intend to save more.
To sustain Nigeria’s ongoing
agricultural transformation, we have planned further investments in the sector.
We will provide input subsidies to five million farmers nationwide using the
e-wallet system. This Administration recently launched a self-employment
initiative under theYouth
Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP), called the
Nagropreneur programme.This
scheme would encourage our youth to go into commercial agriculture as
entrepreneurs and we plan
to develop over 750,000 young Nagropreneurs by
2015.
We will also establish new agro-industrial clusters to complement
the staple crop processing zones being developed across the country. In 2014, this Administration will continue to work
with the private sector to improve financing in the agricultural sector. For
example, we will launch the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) which will serve as a private equity fund to
invest in agri-businesses across the country.
Our Small and Medium scale enterprises (SMEs) will be the bedrock
of Nigeria’s industrialization. We have about 17 million registered SMEs, and
they employ over 32 million Nigerians. When our SMEs grow, more jobs will be
created for our youth. Therefore, in 2014, this Administration will focus
strongly on implementing the Nigeria Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP)
to address the needs of small businesses. Our interventions will include
helping SMEs with access to affordable finance, business development services,
and youth training. In addition, our new CET policies will enable us to support
our emerging industries.
We will also intensify our investment promotion efforts abroad, to
ensure we bring the biggest and best companies from around the world to invest
in Nigeria.
Dear
Compatriots, the housing and construction industry
is a critical sector in most developed economies. When the housing sector
booms, it creates additional jobs for architects and masons, for electricians
and plumbers, for painters and interior decorators, and for those in the cement
and furniture industries.
Today, I am pleased to inform you
that this Administration is reinvigorating our housing and construction sector.
We have established the Nigeria
Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC)
which will increase liquidity in the housing sector, provide a secondary market
for mortgages, and thereby increase the number of people able to purchase or
build homes at an affordable price in the country.
In 2014, we will work in a number of
pilot states where the State Governors have agreed to provide fast-track land
titles, foreclosure arrangements, and serviced plots. This new institution will
enable us to create over 200,000 mortgages over the next five years at
affordable interest rates. In addition, those at the lower end of the economic
ladder will not be left behind as this new initiative will expand mass housing
schemes through a re-structured Federal Mortgage Bank and other institutions to
provide rent-to-own and lease-to-own options. I am confident that very soon,
many more hardworking Nigerian families will be able to realize their dream of
owning a home.
In this our centenary year, we will continue our efforts, through
the Saving One Million Livesinitiative
to strengthen primary health care services. We will scale up interventions in
reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition, routine
immunization, HIV/AIDS, malaria elimination, tuberculosis, neglected tropical
diseases, and non-communicable diseases. We will pay greater attention to the
provision of universal health coverage. Besides the implementation of new
initiatives such as my comprehensive response plan for HIV/AIDS, we shall
continue to collaborate with global health partners to deliver our health
sector transformation agenda.
I am glad that the issues responsible
for the long-drawn ASUU strike have been resolved and our children are
returning to their campuses. We are committed to making our tertiary
institutions true centers of learning for our young people. We will therefore
focus on upgrading hostels, laboratories, classrooms, and halls. As the
2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals approaches, we will continue
to expand access to basic education for all Nigerian children. Working with
State Governments, we shall decisively tackle the problem of the large numbers
of out-of-school children in this country. We will also invest in technical and
vocational education to promote skills development for our youth across the
country.
Nigerian entrepreneurs still lack
access to affordable financing, with medium-to-long-term tenors. To address
this gap, a new wholesale development finance institution will be established
in 2014 to provide medium-to long-term financing for Nigerian businesses. We
are working with partners such as the World Bank, the Africa Development Bank,
the BNDES Bank in Brazil, and KfW in Germany, to realize this project. Our
existing Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry will be re-structured as
specialized institutions to retail financing from this new wholesale
development bank.
In addition to the foregoing, our administration will also do all
within its powers to ensure the success of the forthcoming National Conference.
The report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Conference is
undergoing urgent review and the approved structure, guidelines and modalities
for the conference will soon be published as a prelude to its commencement and
expeditious conclusion.
It remains our sincere hope and expectation that the success of
the national conference will further enhance national unity, peace and cohesion
as we move ahead to the 2015 general elections.
In keeping with our avowed commitment to progressively enhancing
the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process by consistently upholding the
principle of one man, one vote, our Administration will also ensure that the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) receives all required support
to ensure that it is adequately prepared for the next general elections.
As peace and security remain
prerequisite conditions for the full realization of our objectives, we will
also do more in 2014 to further empower our security agencies who are working
in collaborative partnerships with our friends in the international community
to stem the scourge of terrorism in our country and enhance the security of
lives and property in all parts of Nigeria. The allocation of over N600 Billion
to Defence and Policing in the 2014 Budget attests to this commitment.
Fellow compatriots, the task of
making our dear nation a much better place for present and future generations
cannot be left to government alone. I therefore urge you all to be ready and
willing to do more this year to support the implementation of the Federal
Government’s Agenda for National Transformation in every possible way.
Let us all therefore resolve as we
celebrate the new year, and Nigeria’s Centenary, to place the higher interests
of national unity, peace, stability and progress above all other considerations
and work harder in our particular fields of human endeavour to contribute more
significantly to the attainment of our collective aspirations. I urge all
Nigerians, no matter their stations in life, to rededicate themselves to contributing
meaningfully to further enrich our national heritage. The time for that
re-dedication is now, not tomorrow.
I wish you all a happy and rewarding
2014. God bless Nigeria. Happy New Year.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
December 31, 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment