In commemoration of Democracy Day, President Muhammadu Buhari
addressed Nigerians on what his administration has been doing to
better their lives.
Buhari had in 2018 declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day,
in place of May 29, the anniversary of the inauguration of the
Fourth Republic, which since 2000 had been marked as Nigeria’s
Democracy Day.
In his broadcast, the president outlined several key areas his
government has scored a high point, according to him, despite the
various challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below the major points in the June 12 national broadcast of
the president:
Unemployment
The president said as part of the strategy to create jobs in
reducing the effect of COVID-19 on the youths, he directed the
employment of 774,000 Nigerians.
“These youths will be engaged in Special Public Works Programme
aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn.
“Each of the 774 local government areas in the country will be
allotted 1,000 slots. I am pleased to report that this programme
has commenced,” he added.
Economy
The president said since exiting recession, the economy has
witnessed eleven quarters of consecutive GDP growth with the GDP
growing from 1.91% in 2018 to 2.27% in 2019.
He, however, noted that the GDP has declined to 1.87% in the
first quarter of 2020 as a result of the decline in global economic
activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Every single economy in the world has suffered a decline.
“Ours has been relatively moderate,” he said.
He said the external reserves grew from $33.42 billion on April
29th 2020 to about $36.00 billion in May, 2020 “which is enough to
finance seven months of import commitments.”
COVID-19 and democracy
The president said “our aspirations, humanity and indeed
democracy is under the threat of COVID-19.”
He, however, added that “Nigeria has survived many crises before
and came out stronger.
“I am confident that by God’s grace we shall overcome this one
and emerge stronger and more purposeful.”
Agriculture
Agriculture, to the president, remains the key to his
administration’s economic diversification strategy.
“The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative programme continues to
deliver significant quantities of affordable and high-quality
fertilizers to our farmers.
“This initiative has also revived 31 blending plants and created
a significant number of direct and indirect jobs across the value
chain,” he said.
He said the government is also “revamping the cotton, textile
and garment sector via a CBN Textile Revival Intervention Fund that
would considerably reduce foreign exchange spent on cotton and
other textile imports.”
For food security, “we are promoting “Grow What We Eat” and “Eat
What We Grow”, the president said, adding that the “government will
continue to support the Agriculture sector through the CBN Anchor
Borrowers Programme and similar schemes.”
“To protect our farming investments, we have deployed 5,000
Agro-Rangers and employed 30,289 in our para-military agencies.
“Our efforts on growing non-oil exports have started to yield
some results.
“For instance, in the past year, our revenue from Cocoa and
Sesame Seed increased by $79.4 million and $153 million,” he
said.
Ease of doing business
The president noted that Nigeria has risen by 25 places on the
World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking from 146th to 131st and
is now rated as one of the top ten reforming countries.
He also said the development is due to the Visa on Arrival
policy of his administration, as well as “consistent promotion of
initiatives that expand facilities available to Micro Small and
Medium Scale Enterprises, robust electronic registration and
payment system, seamless processing of business registration and
reduction of cost of registering business by 50%.”
Power sector
“The Power Sector remains very critical to meeting our
industrial development aspirations and we are tackling the
challenges that still exist in the delivery of power through
different strategies,” the president noted.
He outlined some of the projects the administration is executing
in this regard to include
Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta Power Station to Benin and Kaduna to
Kano;
330kv DC 62km line between Birnin Kebbi and Kamba;
Lagos/Ogun Transmission Infrastructure Project;
Abuja Transmission Ring Scheme; and
Northern Corridor Transmission Project.
He added that the agreement with Siemens will also transmit and
distribute a total of 11,000 Megawatts by 2023.
Transportation
On transportation, President Buhari noted that through the
SUKUK-Funded Road Projects, a total of 412km of the targeted 643km
road projects have been completed, representing 64%.
“On the 2nd Niger Bridge, piling work has been completed and the
approach roads are being constructed. 48% of work on this bridge
has been achieved.
“We have constructed 102km of the 376km Abuja – Kaduna – Kano
Road, representing 38%, and the 42.9km Obajana – Kabba Road is
87.03% complete.
He also revealed that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has
completed routine maintenance on over 4,000km of federal roads out
of the 5,000km targeted.
On railway networks, the president said more locomotives,
coaches and wagons are being introduced for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail
Line.
“The Central Ajaokuta – Itakpe – Warri Line has been completed
and is being extended from Itakpe to Abuja on one end and from
Warri Town to Warri Port on the other.
“The Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line is 90% completed and would be
extended to the Lagos Port which would help address the
long-standing grid-lock at the Apapa port.
“The Kano – Maradi Single Track Standard Gauge Railway, Coastal
Railway Project and Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Standard Gauge
Railway, with its associated branch lines running through the South
Eastern and Gombe States, industrial park and Bonny Deep Sea Port
are all ready for concessioning,” he added.
Education
He said his administration is pursuing the enforcement of free
and compulsory basic education for the first 9 years of
schooling.
“In pursuit of this, we have launched the Better Education
Service Delivery for All in 17 states, established additional 6
Federal Science and Technical Colleges and currently executing a
pro-active Teacher Training Plan with all states of the
Federation,” he said.
Digital Economy
President Buhari said digital economy continues to play an
important role in our development agenda as we move into the age of
Artificial Intelligence.
“Since the creation of the Ministry of Communication and Digital
Economy, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy has been
launched.
“Steps have been taken to achieve a reduction of connectivity
cluster gaps from 207 to 114 as well as increase the level of 4G
coverage by 30%,” he said.
Housing
He said 1,200 housing units have been delivered for the low and
middle-income earners, as well as the provision of 520 service
plots with infrastructure through a Public Private Sector
partnership and the issuance of 868 mortgages totaling N7.7
Billion.
“Similarly, Home Renovation Loans totaling N16.2 Billion have
been granted to 19,210 people,” he added.
Insurgency, banditry and insecurity
With the heightening insecurity situation in the country, the
president said he “regret recent sporadic incidents with tragic
loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals
taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions.”
“Security Agencies will pursue the perpetrators and bring them
to swift justice,” he added.
President Buhari also said “all the Local Governments that were
taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these
areas who were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from
their ancestral homes.
“The total collapse of the economies of these areas, which
constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed
with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic
activities.”
“As part of the strengthening of our internal security
architecture, the Ministry of Police Affairs was created,” he
added.
Rule of law, anti-corruption campaign and assets
recovery
With his administration’s constant badgering for having little
or no regard for the rule of law, President Buhari said his
“administration is focused on ensuring that Nigeria would always be
governed by the Rule of Law”, adding that he would do his “utmost
to uphold the constitution and protect the lives and property of
all Nigerians.”
On anti-corruption and assets recovery, anti-Corruption agencies
have secured more than 1,400 convictions and also recovered funds
in excess of N800 billion.
“These monies are being ploughed into development and
infrastructure projects,” he said.
Youths, women and persons with disabilities
He acknowledged that the youth population of the country
“remains a source of strength in achieving development
objectives”.
“In this regard, we would continue to concentrate in developing
their skills, providing them with opportunities to express their
entrepreneurial, research and industrial capacities as well as
ample opportunity to take leadership positions in the service of
the nation.
He said he has directed “all relevant Government agencies pay
special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities
in the formulation and implementation of their policies and
programmes, and where suitable their employment.”
“Nigerian women remain a particular treasure to this nation and
for this reason this administration has continued to give them a
place of pride in the affairs of our country,” he added.
In commemoration of Democracy Day, President Muhammadu Buhari
addressed Nigerians on what his administration has been doing to
better their lives.
Buhari had in 2018 declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day,
in place of May 29, the anniversary of the inauguration of the
Fourth Republic, which since 2000 had been marked as Nigeria’s
Democracy Day.
In his broadcast, the president outlined several key areas his
government has scored a high point, according to him, despite the
various challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below the major points in the June 12 national broadcast of
the president:
Unemployment
The president said as part of the strategy to create jobs in
reducing the effect of COVID-19 on the youths, he directed the
employment of 774,000 Nigerians.
“These youths will be engaged in Special Public Works Programme
aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn.
“Each of the 774 local government areas in the country will be
allotted 1,000 slots. I am pleased to report that this programme
has commenced,” he added.
Economy
The president said since exiting recession, the economy has
witnessed eleven quarters of consecutive GDP growth with the GDP
growing from 1.91% in 2018 to 2.27% in 2019.
He, however, noted that the GDP has declined to 1.87% in the
first quarter of 2020 as a result of the decline in global economic
activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Every single economy in the world has suffered a decline.
“Ours has been relatively moderate,” he said.
He said the external reserves grew from $33.42 billion on April
29th 2020 to about $36.00 billion in May, 2020 “which is enough to
finance seven months of import commitments.”
COVID-19 and democracy
The president said “our aspirations, humanity and indeed
democracy is under the threat of COVID-19.”
He, however, added that “Nigeria has survived many crises before
and came out stronger.
“I am confident that by God’s grace we shall overcome this one
and emerge stronger and more purposeful.”
Agriculture
Agriculture, to the president, remains the key to his
administration’s economic diversification strategy.
“The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative programme continues to
deliver significant quantities of affordable and high-quality
fertilizers to our farmers.
“This initiative has also revived 31 blending plants and created
a significant number of direct and indirect jobs across the value
chain,” he said.
He said the government is also “revamping the cotton, textile
and garment sector via a CBN Textile Revival Intervention Fund that
would considerably reduce foreign exchange spent on cotton and
other textile imports.”
For food security, “we are promoting “Grow What We Eat” and “Eat
What We Grow”, the president said, adding that the “government will
continue to support the Agriculture sector through the CBN Anchor
Borrowers Programme and similar schemes.”
“To protect our farming investments, we have deployed 5,000
Agro-Rangers and employed 30,289 in our para-military agencies.
“Our efforts on growing non-oil exports have started to yield
some results.
“For instance, in the past year, our revenue from Cocoa and
Sesame Seed increased by $79.4 million and $153 million,” he
said.
Ease of doing business
The president noted that Nigeria has risen by 25 places on the
World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking from 146th to 131st and
is now rated as one of the top ten reforming countries.
He also said the development is due to the Visa on Arrival
policy of his administration, as well as “consistent promotion of
initiatives that expand facilities available to Micro Small and
Medium Scale Enterprises, robust electronic registration and
payment system, seamless processing of business registration and
reduction of cost of registering business by 50%.”
Power sector
“The Power Sector remains very critical to meeting our
industrial development aspirations and we are tackling the
challenges that still exist in the delivery of power through
different strategies,” the president noted.
He outlined some of the projects the administration is executing
in this regard to include
Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta Power Station to Benin and Kaduna to
Kano;
330kv DC 62km line between Birnin Kebbi and Kamba;
Lagos/Ogun Transmission Infrastructure Project;
Abuja Transmission Ring Scheme; and
Northern Corridor Transmission Project.
He added that the agreement with Siemens will also transmit and
distribute a total of 11,000 Megawatts by 2023.
Transportation
On transportation, President Buhari noted that through the
SUKUK-Funded Road Projects, a total of 412km of the targeted 643km
road projects have been completed, representing 64%.
“On the 2nd Niger Bridge, piling work has been completed and the
approach roads are being constructed. 48% of work on this bridge
has been achieved.
“We have constructed 102km of the 376km Abuja – Kaduna – Kano
Road, representing 38%, and the 42.9km Obajana – Kabba Road is
87.03% complete.
He also revealed that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has
completed routine maintenance on over 4,000km of federal roads out
of the 5,000km targeted.
On railway networks, the president said more locomotives,
coaches and wagons are being introduced for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail
Line.
“The Central Ajaokuta – Itakpe – Warri Line has been completed
and is being extended from Itakpe to Abuja on one end and from
Warri Town to Warri Port on the other.
“The Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line is 90% completed and would be
extended to the Lagos Port which would help address the
long-standing grid-lock at the Apapa port.
“The Kano – Maradi Single Track Standard Gauge Railway, Coastal
Railway Project and Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Standard Gauge
Railway, with its associated branch lines running through the South
Eastern and Gombe States, industrial park and Bonny Deep Sea Port
are all ready for concessioning,” he added.
Education
He said his administration is pursuing the enforcement of free
and compulsory basic education for the first 9 years of
schooling.
“In pursuit of this, we have launched the Better Education
Service Delivery for All in 17 states, established additional 6
Federal Science and Technical Colleges and currently executing a
pro-active Teacher Training Plan with all states of the
Federation,” he said.
Digital Economy
President Buhari said digital economy continues to play an
important role in our development agenda as we move into the age of
Artificial Intelligence.
“Since the creation of the Ministry of Communication and Digital
Economy, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy has been
launched.
“Steps have been taken to achieve a reduction of connectivity
cluster gaps from 207 to 114 as well as increase the level of 4G
coverage by 30%,” he said.
Housing
He said 1,200 housing units have been delivered for the low and
middle-income earners, as well as the provision of 520 service
plots with infrastructure through a Public Private Sector
partnership and the issuance of 868 mortgages totaling N7.7
Billion.
“Similarly, Home Renovation Loans totaling N16.2 Billion have
been granted to 19,210 people,” he added.
Insurgency, banditry and insecurity
With the heightening insecurity situation in the country, the
president said he “regret recent sporadic incidents with tragic
loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals
taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions.”
“Security Agencies will pursue the perpetrators and bring them
to swift justice,” he added.
President Buhari also said “all the Local Governments that were
taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these
areas who were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from
their ancestral homes.
“The total collapse of the economies of these areas, which
constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed
with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic
activities.”
“As part of the strengthening of our internal security
architecture, the Ministry of Police Affairs was created,” he
added.
Rule of law, anti-corruption campaign and assets
recovery
With his administration’s constant badgering for having little
or no regard for the rule of law, President Buhari said his
“administration is focused on ensuring that Nigeria would always be
governed by the Rule of Law”, adding that he would do his “utmost
to uphold the constitution and protect the lives and property of
all Nigerians.”
On anti-corruption and assets recovery, anti-Corruption agencies
have secured more than 1,400 convictions and also recovered funds
in excess of N800 billion.
“These monies are being ploughed into development and
infrastructure projects,” he said.
Youths, women and persons with disabilities
He acknowledged that the youth population of the country
“remains a source of strength in achieving development
objectives”.
“In this regard, we would continue to concentrate in developing
their skills, providing them with opportunities to express their
entrepreneurial, research and industrial capacities as well as
ample opportunity to take leadership positions in the service of
the nation.
He said he has directed “all relevant Government agencies pay
special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities
in the formulation and implementation of their policies and
programmes, and where suitable their employment.”
“Nigerian women remain a particular treasure to this nation and
for this reason this administration has continued to give them a
place of pride in the affairs of our country,” he added.