Here’s President Muhammadu
Buhari‘s 58th Independence Day address to the nation.
NATIONAL BROADCAST BY H.E
MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE 58TH
INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2018
Fellow Nigerians,
Today is a day of
celebration and solemn reflection. It is the anniversary of the day Nigerians
realised one of the most cherished of human desires – the desire for freedom.
We, therefore, give thanks to and remember our founding fathers who laboured so
hard and sacrificed so much to build and bequeath to us this wonderful nation.
It is our duty to consolidate this great legacy.
2. On this first October
date and on the eve of the start of the general election cycle, we should do
well to reflect on what binds us together and the great strength our diversity
bestows on us. Ours is an ambitious nation, and, as citizens we have every
right to look forward to the future with confidence and optimism which are well
founded, considering where we find ourselves today.
3. There has been a steady
improvement in the security situation in the North East. We remain committed to
ending the crisis and make the North East safe for all.
4. Our thoughts and prayers
are always with the victims of the Boko Haram’s atrocities and their families.
Beyond that, we know that the goals of the Boko Haram terrorists include
capturing territories, destroying our democracy and denying our children the
right to education. We will not allow them to succeed.
5. I want at this point to
pay tribute to the men and women of our armed forces, the Police and other
security and law enforcement agencies, who have been working under the most
difficult conditions to keep the country safe. In the process, many have made
the supreme sacrifice.
6. As their Commander -In-
Chief, I assure these our gallant men and women that I will continue to empower
them by deepening their professionalism and providing all the necessary force
multipliers and enablers required for them to prevail on the field. I am
looking into all reported cases of inadequacies in relation to their
entitlements, their welfare and those of their families.
7. We are diversifying away
from reliance on oil to increased manufacturing capacity, solid minerals
development, and agriculture.
8. Efforts are on course in
the Niger Delta to clean up polluted lands, restore hopes of the youths in the
region and re-establish livelihoods, and strengthen their capacity to guarantee
for themselves and for our country a brighter future.
9. The age-long conflict
between herders and farmers that was being exploited by those seeking to plant
the seeds of discord and disunity amongst our people, is being addressed
decisively. We will sustain and continue to support the commendable efforts by
all including civil society organisations, local and states governments and our
traditional and religious leaders in finding durable solution to this problem.
10. This being a
transhumance issue, we are working with countries in our region that are also
facing similar difficulties to complement our common efforts. In this context I
must warn that the perpetrators of murder and general mayhem in the name of
defending or protecting herders or farmers will face the full wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, we urge all peace loving Nigerians to reject any simplistic
portrayal, at home or abroad, of this conflict as either religious or ethnic
based.
11. We are one of the
countries in the world most affected by environmental degradation, as a consequence
of climate change. We are signatories to almost all conventions and agreements
aimed at slowing down the effect of climate change and mitigating its now
evident consequences.
12. The consequences on
lives and livelihoods of the shrinking of the Lake Chad and the pollution
caused by oil exploitation activities alone make it mandatory on us to be at
the forefront of the struggle for a safer and more sustainable environment. We will
continue to mobilise international support for our efforts in this regard.
13. We are making progress
in the fight against corruption and recovery of stolen public funds and assets
despite vicious and stiff resistance. The shameful past practice, of the brazen
theft of billions of Naira is no more. Shady oil deals and public contracts
that were never delivered have become things of the past.
14. Consequently, and this
is very evident across the country, we have done more with less in
infrastructural developments. Roads, railways, major bridges, schools, energy
and power, air and sea ports, welfare of serving and retired personnel both
civilian and military including payment of legacy debt such as pension arrears,
have been attended to.
15. There is now an
enabling environment for local and foreign investment in Nigeria. We are
building a rules-based system – a level playing field that is free from fixers
and intermediaries. This is the cornerstone to help genuine investors and
honest consumers, and the platform that will allow for the real reforms that we
intend to deliver over the coming years.
16. We are gradually
strengthening the economy with a stable Naira and falling inflation rate. We
are building an economy that is moving away from over reliance on oil.
Consequently we have witnessed massive return to farms and seen bumper harvest,
despite recurrent floods across the country.
17. These positive
developments are the result of our collective pursuit of a common vision
through hard work and dedication, after the missed opportunities and
disappointments that followed the return to democracy in 1999.
18. At the forefront, have
always been our youths. They have been at the vanguard of the struggle for
independence. They fought in the war to keep the country united. And it was
they who kept alive the struggle for democracy and human rights in our country
at times when these were at risk, especially following the June 12th 1993
election and the historic 2015 election process.
19. Even today, our youths play
a central role in Nigeria’s continuing progress and developments in all fields
of our national endeavour –technology, agriculture, mining, engineering and
especially the creative arts. Together we are building a more diverse,
inclusive and self-reliant economy.
20. In the past three years
we have introduced many policies and programmes targeted at youth development
and youth empowerment. We support the ‘not too young to run’ legislation aimed
at giving the youths greater say in our national politics and governance.
21. The school feeding
program in primary schools is aimed at encouraging enrolment and attendance. We
are building on what we have already introduced to support schools and
universities to which funds have recently been released for upgrade of
facilities, training programs for our entrepreneurs, and rehabilitation schemes
for victims of terrorism and human trafficking.
Fellow Nigerians,
22. Now we have in our
hands technology that is a powerful tool that we can and should use for
knowledge and understanding. As with other countries, we must also learn how to
manage those tendencies that, instead, look to abuse new technologies to
provoke passions and stir tensions.
23. Never before have we
faced such a challenge. We must all rise to the responsibility of shutting out
those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today’s world of social
media. We need critical minds and independent thinking, to question and
question until we are satisfied we have the facts. Otherwise, all the progress
we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake.
24. I have committed myself
many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and
that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly INDEPENDENT
and properly staffed and resourced. The ballot box is how we make our choice
for the governments that rule in our name.
Fellow Nigerians,
25. Developing a thriving
democracy is not an easy task. There can be no quick fixes or short cuts. These
are the most important lessons that we have learnt in our 58 years as an
independent nation.
26. At the international
level, we remain a responsible and respected member of the international
community, playing active positive roles within ECOWAS, the African Union and
the United Nations as well as all other regional and international
organisations and institutions of which we are members.
27. We will continue to
support initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges of our times: global and
regional crises and conflicts, terrorism, trans-border crime, climate change,
human rights, gender equality, development, poverty and inequality within and
between nations, etc. In this context, we are working hard to achieve both the
AU 2063 Agenda for socio-economic transformation of our continent; and the UN
2030 Agenda for sustainable development, which together aim at addressing these
challenges
Fellow Nigerians,
28. As we celebrate the
58th Anniversary of our independence, we know we are on the right path.
Although we have our differences, they count for far less than the values,
virtues and common aspirations that unite us as a nation. We have so much for
which we should be grateful, and in which we should rightly take pride. Our
journey is not finished but we have come a long way.
29. I want to assure you
that as President, I will continue to work tirelessly to promote, protect and
preserve what really matters: a united, peaceful, prosperous and secure
Nigeria, where all, irrespective of background, can aspire to succeed.
Thank you. I wish you a
memorable independence celebration.
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