*Promises to
fund Oyo-Ogbomosho, Lokoja-Benin roads, others from N116.67bn Sukuk facility
• Downplays
agitations for restructuring, says ‘no human edifice is perfect’
• Asks
Nigerians to shun ethnicity, religion as election approaches
President
Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to deal with those responsible for the fuel
scarcity
that inflicted severe hardship on Nigerians, especially during the yuletide.
Buhari
promised to probe the development, which he said was a “blackmail of all
Nigerians,” and forestall future manipulation that could inflict hardship on
citizens.
“I am
saddened to acknowledge that, for many, this Christmas and New Year holidays
have been anything but merry and happy. Instead of showing love, companionship
and charity, some of our compatriots chose this period to inflict severe
hardship on us all by creating unnecessary fuel scarcity across the country,”
he said.
”The
consequence was that not many could travel and the few who did had to pay
exorbitant transport fares. This is unacceptable given that NNPC had taken
measures to ensure availability at all depots.”
President
Buhari, in his 2018 new year address to Nigerians, said he was determined to
get to the root of the matter and “ensure that whichever groups are behind this
manipulated hardship will be prevented from doing so again.”
The President
assured that unpatriotic actions would not divert government’s change agenda
for Nigerians and from the course it had set for itself.
“Our
government’s watchword and policy thrust is “Change.” We must change our way of
doing things or we will stagnate and be left behind in the race to lift our
people out of poverty and into prosperity.
“My address
to fellow Nigerians this morning is devoted mainly to informing you about the
intense efforts this Administration is putting to address our country’s huge infrastructural
deficit.
We are going
to make significant in-roads in advancing road, rail and power projects across
the country.
“The
Ministry of Power, Works and Housing is one of the drivers of this Government’s
commitment to renew and increase Nigeria’s stock of infrastructure in order to
achieve global economic competitiveness as targeted under the Economic Recovery
and Growth Plan.”
On Railways,
the President said the government has already set ambitious targets with the
Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway already in construction stage.
He said the
line should reach Ibadan from Lagos by the end of 2019 and will carry two
million passengers per year and five million tons of cargo will be transported
every year giving a substantial boost to the country’s economy.
Further,
President Buhari said construction of the Kano – Kaduna segment is expected to
commence this year and reach Kaduna by the end of 2019.
“By the end
of 2021 the two ends will be joined so that we will have standard gauge railway
across the main North-South trading route.
The Abuja –
Kaduna route will be boosted by additional rolling stock next Thursday and will
be able to handle one million commuters annually.
“At the same
time I have approved and negotiations will be concluded in the first part of
this year for the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri line covering Aba, Owerri,
Umuahia, Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Makurdi, Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and
Damaturu. The Abuja to Itakpe line will
go through Baro and terminate in Warri with construction of a new seaport at
Warri.”
The
President said negotiations are also advanced for the construction of other
railway lines, first from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic passing through
Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibia to Maradi.
”Secondly,
Lagos to Calabar the “Coastal Rail” through Ore, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha,
Sapele, Ughelli, Warri, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo and
Calabar. In the next few years, all
these Nigerian cities will be linked by functional modern rail systems, giving
enormous boost to the social and economic life of our people.”
The train
service, he explained, would stimulate economic activities in the federal
capital and provide residents with an efficient and safe transportation
system. “Twelve railway sub-stations
around the capital over a 45.2 kilometre route will serve as a catalyst and a
pull factor to the economy of the area.
The Light Rail System will reduce traffic congestion and carbon emission
in line with the Administration’s policy on climate change.
“Management
of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has been reconstituted and has
been charged with a 12 week rapid intervention in road repairs to cover all the
geo-political zones. Government is undertaking repairs and maintenance of 44
roads within the six geo-political zones.
He said
twenty-five major highways would be funded under the N100b SUKUK facility. Each
geo-political zone will benefit by an equal amount of N16.67b. The following
major highways are to receive special attention:
a. Oyo – Ogbomosho,
b. Ofusu-Ore-Ajebandele-Shagamu,
c. Yenagoa Road Junction – Kolo Otuoke – Bayelsa
Palm,
d. Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Way,
e. Onitsha – Enugu Expressway,
f. Kaduna Eastern Bypass,
g. Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road,
h. Dualization of Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Road,
i. Dualization of Suleja – Minna Road.
He disclosed
that government had approved reconstruction work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano
road now in a state of disrepair. It will be completed in 2019.
“More
Nigerians across the country are experiencing improved power supply to their
homes and businesses. However, power
remains a concern to this government because too many people still do not have
regular and reliable supply.
The Payment
Assurance Guarantee Scheme, which started in January 2016, has enabled the
Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader to raise so far N701 billion to assure
Generation Companies of at least 80 percent payment for any power delivered to
the national grid.
“Consequently,
generation has now reached 7,000MW. On December 8, 2017, the country achieved
5,155MW of power delivered to consumers, the highest level ever recorded.
Several
moribund projects have been revived.
Repairs of Afam Power Station added 110MW in 2017 and another 240MW will
be added this year through a private investment partnership.
“Katsina
Power Project is now being tested and producing 10MW of power from wind for the
first time in Nigeria. It should be
fully operational this year. The Zungeru
700MW Hydroelectric Power Project, stalled by court cases is due for completion
in 2019. The transmission and other
requirements to operate the 30MW Gurara Phase 1 Hydroelectric Plant, the 40MW
Kashimbilla Hydroelectric Plant and the 215 MW Kaduna Gas/LPG/Diesel Power
Plant will also be completed this year.
“A landmark
project, Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project is at last taking off. This project has been on the drawing Board
for 40 years, but now the engineering, procurement and construction contract
for the 3,050MW project has been agreed with a Chinese joint venture Company
with a financing commitment from the government of China. Completion is targeted for 2023.
“As I
mentioned earlier, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) can now distribute
all the 7,000MW that can be generated.
TCN and the Niger Delta Holding Company have added 1,950MVA of 330 down
to 132KV transformer capacity of 10 transmission stations and 2,930MVA of 132
down to 33KV transformer capacity of 42 sub-stations including Ikot Ekpene,
Aba, Alagbon, Ajah, Ejigbo, Funtua and Zaria.”
President
Buhari said the administration is working with the privatised distribution
Companies to overcome the continuing challenges of distribution.
These
massive public works, according to him, should spearhead the recovery and lead
millions back to employment. “You will recall that it was not until last year
that we got out of the economic recession into which the country had fallen as
a consequence of past unsustainable economic policies, which projected
short-term illusory growth.
“The
government is slowly stabilizing the economy.
It was in
order to change the steady and steep decline that we adopted the more
sustainable policies and programmes captured in the Economic Recovery Plan.
Diversification efforts have resulted in improved output particularly in
agriculture and solid minerals sectors. The relative exchange rate stability
has improved manufacturing sector performance. We have got to get used to
discipline and direction in economic management. The days of business as usual
are numbered.
“Two years
ago I appealed to people to go back to the land. I am highly gratified that
agriculture has picked up, contributing to the government’s effort to
re-structure the economy. Rice imports will stop this year. Local rice, fresher
and more nutritious will be on our dishes from now on.”
The
President appealed to enterprising Nigerians with ideas and unemployed
graduates and other able-bodied and literate men and women with ideas not to
just wait for employment from government or the Organized Private Sector.
According to
President Buhari, great nations are built by enterprising people who turn their
hands to anything that circumstances dictate.
On the
political turf, the President said he had kept a close watch on the on-going
debate about “Restructuring.”
The
President argued that no human law or edifice is perfect, and submitted that
whatever structure that is developed by the people must periodically be
perfected according to changing circumstances and the country’s socio-economic
developments.
“We
Nigerians can be very impatient and want to improve our conditions faster than
may be possible considering our resources and capabilities. When all the
aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our
problems are more to do with process than structure.
“We tried
the Parliamentary system: we jettisoned it. Now there are shrill cries for a
return to the Parliamentary structure. In older democracies these systems took
centuries to evolve so we cannot expect a copied system to fit neatly our
purposes. We must give a long period of trial and improvement before the system
we have adopted is anywhere near fit for purpose.
“However,
there is a strong case for a closer look at the cost of government and for the
public services long used to extravagance, waste and corruption to change for
the better. I assure you that government is ever receptive to ideas, which will
improve governance and contribute to the country’s peace and stability.
On the 2019
campaigns, President Buhari said, as the electioneering season approaches politicians
must avoid exploiting ethnicity and religion by linking ethnicity with religion
and religion with politics. Such must be avoided at all costs if we are to live
in harmony.
He said that
Nigeria must learn from the South Western States who have successfully
internalized religion, ethnicity and politics.
“Political
discourse should be conducted with civility, decorum and in a constitutional
manner. We all have a collective responsibility to strengthen our democracy and
entrench the rule of law.
“We should
draw encouragement from the series of bye-elections conducted by INEC last year
which were generally violence free and their outcomes adjudged to be free and
fair.”
On the security
situation in the country, President Buhari reassured Nigerians that security of
life and property was still top of the government’s agenda. He claimed that his
administration has since beaten Boko Haram with only isolated attacks still
occurring.
He noted
that even the best-policed countries cannot prevent determined criminals from
committing terrible acts of terror as we have seen during the past years in
Europe, Asia, Middle East, elsewhere in Africa and in America.
He assured
that government was determined to protect all Nigerians in line with the
party’s election pledge and promises to the citizens of the country.
The
President specifically thanked members of the Armed Forces, the Police and
other paramilitary forces for their efforts in ensuring that “you and I go
about our normal business in reasonable safety.
“Terrorism
and urban crimes are world-wide phenomena and our security forces are
continuously adapting their responses to changing threats,” he added.
With regard
to rampant cases of kidnappings, the President said his administration was
taking immediate short-term measures to combat the new evil creeping into
Nigeria.
“Tighter
police methods and swift and severe punishment for those proved to be engaged
in kidnapping are on the way,” he said.
With respect
to Niger Delta, President Buhari said Government was still engaging with
responsible leadership of communities to help in identifying and addressing
genuine grievances of the region.
“Our
clean-up programme in collaboration with the United Nations is making
satisfactory progress.”
The
President also seized the opportunity to express gratitude to Nigerians who
prayed for him during his illness last year.
“I feel
deeply humbled by your prayers and good wishes and I am more determined than
ever to serve you to the best of my ability.”
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