President Bola Tinubu has addressed Nigerians on the occasion of Nigeria’s 64th anniversary of independence, assuring them that things are better ahead.
The full speech is below.
Fellow Nigerians, as I speak to you today, I am deeply aware of the challenges many of you are facing during these difficult times. Our administration knows that many of you are struggling with the rising cost of living and the search for meaningful work. I want to assure you that your voice will be heard.
As President, I assure you that I am committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our people. We appreciate your patience as we see a silver lining in the reforms we are implementing and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.
Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as the form of government, leading the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment, and becoming a ray of hope for the rest of Africa and African nations. We have launched a dream to build a great country that will become. world.
More than 60 years later, we can look back and Nigerians around the world can see how we succeeded in realizing the lofty dreams of our founding fathers. .
The world has witnessed and benefited from the can-do spirit, the vast intellectual capacity of Nigerians in all walks of life, from the arts to science, from technology to infrastructure, and our businesses and industries. The dream envisioned by our founding fathers is still a work in progress. Every day we put our hands to the plow determined to do better.
It is tempting to focus on what has been left unfinished and where we have stumbled as a nation, but how far have we come in terms of uniting and keeping our country together? Don’t lose sight of that.
Since independence, our country has survived many crises and upheavals that have led to the dissolution and collapse of many other countries around the world. Six years after independence, our country was plunged into a political crisis that led to a violent civil war that was inevitable. Since coming back from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace diversity and better manage our differences as we continue to strive to create a more perfect union.
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Despite the many challenges that have hit our nation, we remain a strong, united and viable sovereign nation.
Dear compatriots, on our Independence Day, we reflect on how far we have come on our nation-building journey and renew our resolve to build a better country that serves current and future generations of Nigerians. It gives us the opportunity to.
As we celebrate the progress we have made as a species over the past 64 years, we must also recognize missed opportunities and past mistakes. If we are to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as God has destined us to be, we must not allow our mistakes to follow us into the future. It won’t.
My administration assumed leadership of our country at a critical juncture 16 months ago. The economy faced many headwinds and our physical security was severely compromised. We are at a dizzying crossroads, forced to choose between reinventing ourselves for progress and prosperity, or continuing business as usual and collapsing. We decided to reform our political economy and defense structure.
On the security front, I am happy to announce to my compatriots that our administration is winning the fight against terrorism and banditry. Our goal is to eliminate all threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom and the scourge of violent extremism in all its forms. Within a year, our government eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever before. As of the latest count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our heroic troops in the North East, North West and some other parts of the country.
We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the north and allowed thousands of our citizens to return home. This is unfinished business, and our security services are committed to finishing it as soon as possible. If we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled north, farmers will soon be able to return to their farms. We expect to see a dramatic increase in food production and a fall in food costs. I promise you, we won’t back down on this.
Our government has responded to recent natural disasters, particularly flooding in parts of the country. After Vice President Kassim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited and assured the people that this federal government will always be there for them in their difficult times. At our last Federal Executive Committee meeting, we approved the establishment of a Disaster Relief Fund that mobilizes private and public sector funds to support rapid response to emergencies.
Our government has also ordered health inspections of all dams in the country to avoid future disasters.
The economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and restructuring to serve us better and more sustainably. If we do not correct the fiscal misalignments that have led to our current economic downturn, our nation faces an uncertain future and risks unimaginable consequences.
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Thanks to our reforms, our country attracted more than $30 billion in foreign direct investment last year.
My fellow citizens, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit of investments, while maintaining the sanctity and effectiveness of the regulatory process. This principle guides our divestiture transactions in our upstream oil sector and we are committed to positively changing our fortunes. ExxonMobil’s sale of Seplat was therefore concluded by the regulator NUPRC under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and is expected to receive ministerial approval in the next few days. This was done in the same manner as other qualified sales approved in this area.
This move will create vibrancy, increase oil and gas production, and have a positive impact on the economy.
The more disciplined approach taken by the central bank to monetary policy management ensured stability and predictability in the foreign exchange market. We inherited over $33 billion in reserves 16 months ago. Since then, we have paid off $7 billion in inherited foreign exchange balances. We have cleared over 30 trillion Norwegians of debt. We reduced our debt service ratio from 97 percent to 68 percent. Despite all this, our country was able to maintain foreign exchange reserves at $ 37 billion. We will continue to meet all our obligations and pay our bills.
We are moving forward with fiscal policy reform. To stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity, the Federal Executive Council has approved the Economic Stabilization Bill, which will be submitted to Parliament in the coming days. If passed, these innovative bills will make our business environment friendlier, stimulate investment, and reduce the tax burden for businesses and workers.
As part of our efforts to redesign our political economy, we are determined to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government fiscal autonomy.
The biggest concern of the people today is the high cost of living, especially the cost of food. This concern is shared by many people around the world as prices and living costs continue to rise globally.
Rest assured, Nigerians, that we are taking many steps to reduce the cost of living here in the country.
I particularly commend the governors of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa and the South West for embracing our agricultural production programme. I urge other states to join the federal government in investing in mechanized agriculture. We play our part by supplying fertilizer and agricultural equipment such as tractors. Last week, the Federal Executive Committee approved the creation of a local assembly plant for 2,000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc sliders, bottom plows and other farm equipment. The completion time for this factory is 6 months.
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Our energy transition program is well underway. We are working with private sector stakeholders to expand adoption of the President’s Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for Mass Transportation. The federal government is ready to help 36 states and the FCT acquire CNG buses as a cheaper mode of public transport.
Fellow Nigerians, while we strive to stabilize our economy and ensure the security of our country, we also aim to promote national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only prosper when there is peace.
To overcome daily challenges, we always keep the next generation in mind and strive to energize their creative energies for a better future. We spend today focusing on the future we want to leave for our children. We recognize that we cannot design our children’s futures unless we make them their architects.
With this in mind, I am pleased to announce the holding of the National Youth Conference. The conference will provide a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities faced by young people, who make up more than 60 percent of the population. It will spark meaningful dialogue and enable youth to actively participate in nation-building. By ensuring their voices are heard when developing the policies that affect their lives, we are building a path to a brighter tomorrow.
The 30-day Confab unites young people from across the country to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modus operandi and selection of representatives for this conference will be designed in close consultation with young people through their representatives. Throughout this conference, it is our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the center of the conference’s deliberations. The Government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as it remains steadfast in its mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous and united Nigeria.
Our government has several other youth-centered programs in place to give young people an edge in a rapidly changing world. The company is, among other things, implementing the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s 3 Million Technical Talents Program (3MTT), which aims to build Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.
We are also passionate about the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) which provides low-cost loans to students to pursue their dreams of higher education. Additionally, later this month, we will launch the Renewed Hope Labor Employment and Empowerment Program (LEEP). It is envisaged as a comprehensive set of interventions in job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment, with the goal of creating 2.5 million jobs directly and indirectly on an annual incremental basis, while simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers. is intended to promote. All over the country.
As per tradition, the government will soon announce all the 2024 National Honors recipients.
The President of the Senate and the Chief Justice of the Federation were conferred the honor of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The Vice-President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have been awarded the honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while the Vice-President of the House of Representatives has been awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
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Dear Nigerians, better days are ahead of us. The challenges of the moment must always make us believe in ourselves. We are resilient and tenacious Nigerians. We always overcome and overcome the situation.
I ask you to believe in our country’s promise. The road ahead may be difficult, but with your support, we will pave the way to a bright future. Together, we will foster a Nigeria that reflects the aspirations of all its people, a country that resonates with pride, dignity and shared success.
As agents of change, we can shape our own destiny and build a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.
We invite you to join our administration on this journey towards a brighter future. Let’s work together to build a greater Nigeria where all people have access to opportunity and all children can grow up with hope and promise.
May God continue to bless our nation and keep our military members safe.
Happy Independence Day to all Nigerians!
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
