Independence Day Vows, Promises, Continuation and Concentration by Mr. President

Nigeria @56, here is all the highlights of what the president has said earlier to mark the INDEPENDENCE DAY. His vows, angry, promises, continuation and concentration.

ON SECURITY
“We have made progress. Boko Haram was defeated by last December only resorting to cowardly attacks on soft targets, killing innocent men, women and children. Now, residents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, as well as several neighbouring states go about their daily business in relative safety. People can go to mosques, churches, market places in reasonable safety.

I WILL DEAL WITH NIGER-DELTA MILITANTS
“A new insurgency has reared up its head in the shape of blowing up gas and oil pipelines by groups of Niger Delta Militants. This Administration will not allow these mindless groups to hold the country to ransom. We have however, continued to dialogue with all groups and leaders of thought in the region to bring lasting peace.

CORRUPTION MUST BE FOUGHT HEAD-ON
“Corruption is a cancer which must be fought with all the weapons at our disposal. It corrodes the very fabric of government and destroys society. Fighting corruption is Key, not only to restoring the moral health of the nation, but also to freeing our enormous resources for urgent socio-economic development.

HOW WE ARE PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO ECONOMIC CRISIS
“There are no easy solutions, but there are solutions nonetheless and Government is pursuing them in earnest. We are to repair our four refineries so that Nigeria can produce most of our petrol requirements locally, pending the coming on stream of new refineries. That way we will save ten billion USD yearly in importing fuel.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
“Roads Construction and Rehabilitation has taken off. The sum of twelve billion naira was allocated to this sector in the 2015 Budget, not enough even to pay interest on outstanding unpaid claims. “Notwithstanding the budgetary constraints, the current budget allocated two hundred and forty billion naira for highway projects against twelve billion naira in 2015. Many contractors who have not been paid for three years have now remobilised to sites. Seven hundred and twenty point five billion naira has so far been released this budget year to capital projects.

RAILWAYS
“On railways, we have provided our counterpart funding to China for the building of our standard gauge Lagos -Kano railway. Meanwhile, General Electric is investing two point two billion USD in a concession to revamp, provide rolling stock, and manage the existing lines, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Line. The Lagos-Calabar railway will also be on stream soon.

RESTORING NIGERIA’S IMAGE ABROAD
“Abroad, Nigeria’s standing has changed beyond belief in the last 18 months. We are no longer a pariah state. Wherever I go, I have been received with un-accustomed hospitality. Investors from all over the world are falling over themselves to come and do business in Nigeria. This government intends to make business environment more friendly because we cannot develop ourselves alone.