NEWS
Buhari’s 60th Independence Anniversary Speech
INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE OCCASION OF NIGERIA’S SIXTIETH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, THURSDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2020
Fellow Nigerians
I speak to you today as your President and fellow citizen on this epoch occasion of our country’s 60th independence Anniversary.
As President, I wish to renew my appreciation to Nigerians for entrusting me with your hopes and aspirations for a better and greater Nigeria.2. Today, it is my unique privilege to re-commit myself to the service of this great country of great people with profound diversities and opportunities.
We are bound by destiny to be the largest and greatest black nation on earth.3. At this stage in our nationhood it is important that we reflect how we got here to enable us work TOGETHER to get to where we aspire to be as a strong indivisible nation, united in hope and equal in opportunity.
4. On October 1st 1960 when Prime Minister Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa received the constitutional instruments symbolizing Nigeria’s independence, he expressed his wish that having acquired our rightful status as an independent sovereign nation, history would record that the building of our nation proceeded at the wisest pace.
5. This optimism was anchored on the peaceful planning, full and open consultation and harmonious cooperation with the different groups which culminated in Nigeria emerging as a country without bitterness and bloodshed.
6. Our founding fathers understood the imperative of structuring a National identity using the power of the state and worked towards unification of Nigerians in a politically stable and viable entity.
7. That philosophy guided the foundation that was laid for our young nation of 45 million people with an urban population of approximately 7million occupying an area of 910,768 square kilometers. These demographics led to development challenges for which major efforts were made to overcome.
8. Today, we grapple with multiple challenges with a population exceeding 200million occupying the same land mass but 52% residing in urban areas.
9. Sixty years of nationhood provides an opportunity to ask ourselves questions on the extent to which we have sustained the aspirations of our founding fathers. Where did we do the right things? Are we on course? If not where did we stray and how can we remedy and retrace our steps?
10. Upon attaining independence, Nigeria’s growth trajectory was anchored on policies and programmes that positively impacted on all sectors of the economy. However, this journey was cut short by the 30-months of civil war.
11. We came out of the civil war with a focus on reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation that enabled the country to put in place world class development structures and a strengthened public service that well served the government. This positive trajectory continued with a return to democratic government which was truncated by another round of military rule.
12. For a cumulative 29 of our 60 years existence as a nation, we have been under military rule.
13. My summary of our journey so far as a nation is necessary to appropriately chart where we need to go and how to get there TOGETHER.
14. Today, I am aware that our economy along with every single economy in the world is in crisis. We still face security challenges in parts of the country, while our society suffers from a high loss of moral rectitude which is driven by unbridled craving for political control.
15. An underlying cause of most of the problems we have faced as a nation is our consistent harping on artificially contrived fault-lines that we have harboured and allowed unnecessarily to fester.
16. In addition, institutions such as civil service, police, the judiciary, the military all suffered from a general decline.
17. We need to begin a sincere process of national healing and this anniversary presents a genuine opportunity to eliminate old and outworn perceptions that are always put to test in the lie they always are.
18. The stereotype of thinking of ourselves as coming from one part of the country before seeing ourselves as Nigerians is a key starting point to project us on the road to our deserved nation’s evolution and integration.
19. To start this healing process, we are already blessed with the most important asset any nation requires for such – OUR PEOPLE – and this has manifested globally in the exploits of Nigerians in many fields.
20. It has been demonstrated time and time again that Nigerians in the diaspora frequently excel in science, technology, medicine, sports, arts and many other fields.
21. Similarly, the creativity, ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Nigerian at home have resulted in globally recognized endeavours.
22. I am convinced that if we pursue our aspirations TOGETHER we would be able to achieve whatever we desire. That informed our adopting the theme TOGETHER to mark this epochal event.
23. Together we can change our condition for the better and more importantly, together we can do much more for ourselves and for our country.
24. I chose the path of self-reflection because this is what I do on a daily basis and I must confess that at most times, I always felt the need for a collective reflection as I know that the foundation for a solid future which this administration is laying can only be sustainable if there is a collective commitment by Nigerians.
25. Nigeria is not a country for Mr. President, any ruling or opposition party but a country for all of us and we must play our part, irrespective of challenges we face, to make this country what we desire.
26. To achieve this, we must focus our minds, TOGETHER as a people, on ways of resolving the identified critical challenges that underlie our present state. These include:
a. Evolving and sustaining a democratic culture that leaves power in the hands of the people;
b. Supporting the enthronement of the rule of law, demanding accountability of elected representatives and contributing to good governance;
c. Increasing our commitment to peaceful co-existence in a peaceful, secure and united Nigeria;
d. Harnessing and Optimizing our tremendous human and natural resources to attain our goal of being in the top twenty economies of the world and in the process;
e. Lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years;
f. Strengthening institutions to make them stronger in protecting National Interests; and
g. Imbibing tolerance in diversity.
27. I am a firm believer in transparent, free, fair and credible elections as has been demonstrated during my period as a democratically elected President.
28. The recent build-up and eventual outcome of the Edo State elections should encourage Nigerians that it is my commitment to bequeath to this country processes and procedures that would guarantee that the people’s votes count.
29. The problems with our electoral process are mainly human induced as desperate desire for power leads to desperate attempts to gain power and office.
30. Democracy, the world over and as I am pursuing in Nigeria, recognizes the power of the people. However, if some constituencies choose to bargain off their power, they should be prepared for denial of their rights.
31. This call is made more urgent if we realise that even after a transparent, free, fair and credible election, desperation leads to compromising the judiciary to upturn legitimate decisions of the people.
32. It is necessary to, therefore support the enthronement of the rule of law by avoiding actions which compromise the judiciary.
33. Fellow Nigerians, our history has shown that we are a people that have the capacity to live peacefully with one another.
34. As a government, we remain committed to our constitutional oath of securing the lives and properties of the citizenry. I, however, call on the citizenry to also support government by providing the necessary community level intelligence in addressing these challenges.
35. In moving forward together, it is important to strengthen our economy to provide sustainable means of livelihood for as many Nigerians as possible so as to eradicate absolute poverty from our midst.
36. I want to re-emphasize my dedication and commitment, a dedication and commitment that propelled my public service career and informed my quest to continually seek for an opportunity to improve the lives of Nigerians, set the country on the path of prosperity and lead the country to a better future.
37. This administration has been focused on rebuilding and laying the foundations for a sustainable Nigeria. Of course, we have met and are still meeting the challenges inherent in any rebuilding initiative – more so that of a nation like Nigeria that has undergone avoidable levels of deprivation – but can be surmounted if we all work together.
38. I wish to re-iterate that our people and our spirit of excellence remains our most important asset.
39. In this wise, the need to return to our age-old ethical and high moral values would be necessary and this informed my launching of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy on Monday 28th September, 2020.
40. The policy would not implement itself and the first contact of the visibility of its implementation is the Public Service whose on-going reforms would be expected to be sustainable and give a radical re-direction in providing services to all Nigerians.
41. Fellow Nigerians, in addition to public health challenges of working to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, we have suffered a significant drop in our foreign exchange earnings and internal revenues due to 40 per cent drop in oil prices and steep drop in economic activities, leading to a 60 per cent drop in government revenue.
42. Our government is grappling with the dual challenge of saving lives and livelihoods in face of drastically reduced resources.
43. In this regard, sustaining the level of petroleum prices is no longer possible. The government, since coming into office has recognized the economic argument for adjusting the price of petroleum. But the social argument about the knock-on effect of any adjustment weighed heavily with the government.
44. Accordingly, in the last three years, we have introduced unprecedented measures in support of the economy and to the weakest members of our society in the shape of:
a. Tradermoni
b. Farmermoni
c. School Feeding Programme
d. Job creation efforts
e. Agricultural intervention programmes
45. No government in the past did what we are doing with such scarce resources. We have managed to keep things going in spite of the disproportionate spending on security. Those in the previous Governments from 1999 – 2015 who presided over the near destruction of the country have now the impudence to attempt to criticize our efforts.
46. In the circumstances, a responsible government must face realities and take tough decisions.
47. Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted. We sell now at N161 per litre. A comparison with our neighbours will illustrate the point;
a. Chad which is an oil producing country charges N362 per litre
b. Niger, also an oil producing country sells 1 litre at N346.
c. In Ghana, another oil producing country, petroleum pump price is N326 per litre.
48. Further afield, Egypt charges N211 per litre. Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.
49. Fellow Nigerians, to achieve the great country we desire, we need to solidify our strength, increase our commitment and encourage ourselves to do that which is right and proper even when no one is watching.
50. Fellow Nigerians, let us collectively resolve to continue our journey beyond the sixty years on the clear understanding that as a nation we are greater together than being smaller units of nationalities. By the special grace of God we shall come through any transient challenges.
51. It is my sincere hope that by the end of this anniversary on September 30th 2021, we will all be proud of taking this individual and collective self-assessment for the progress of our great Nation.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
God Bless us all. Thank you.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Federal Government, FG, has revealed on Monday, that there were 190 deaths since January as a result of Lassa Fever.The Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja, on the updates, preparedness and response of Lassa Fever outbreak in Nigeria.
He noted that Nigeria in 2024 have recorded 9,492 suspected cases, 1,154 confirmed with 190 deaths. He said only 10 Local Government Areas in Nigeria accounted for over 59% of the confirmed cases. While, six states make up 89% of the confirmed cases.He said in 2024 there is an increase of over 13% on fatality. And he lamented that there has been an alarming increase in Lassa fever cases and deaths in the last 4 weeks, signaling the outbreak’s severity. On yultide, the NCDC boss advised that during this festive period, Nigerians should be very careful what they eat at this period.”The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) continues to address the current Lassa Fever outbreak during this peak season. Lassa fever remains endemic in Nigeria, posing a significant public health risk across all states. The disease occurs throughout the year, with peak transmission typically recorded between October and May. Outbreaks typically occur during the dry season, when human exposure to rodents is highest. “Cumulatively this year, we have recorded 9,492 suspected cases, 1,154 confirmed with 190 deaths. Six states make up 89% of the confirmed cases, namely: Ondo (29.7%), Edo (22.7%), Bauchi (17.9%), Taraba (8.8%), Benue (5.6%), and Ebonyi (4%). 10 LGAs (Owo, Etsako West, Esan West, Kirfi, Ardo-Kola, Toro, Ose, Akure South, Jalingo and Idah) accounted for almost 59% of the confirmed cases. “There has been an alarming increase in Lassa fever cases and deaths in the last 4 weeks, signaling the outbreak’s severity. First, the case fatality rate has consistently remained high, over 13%. “We have noted a rise in the number of suspected cases compared to a similar timeline in 2023. This, however, could be attributed to the increased / enhanced surveillance.”Most cases continue to emerge from endemic areas, like Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba Ebonyi and Enugu, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in these states”. He stressed that the major objective of NCDC is to reduce the number of cases and importantly, deaths and protect th vulnerables in the society. He said, “These trends therefore demand a coordinated effort to strengthen our response and protect our vulnerable populations.”In addressing this situation, it is important to highlight the proactive measures taken by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) so far. These efforts demonstrate our commitment to preparedness, coordination, and response at all levels.”We conducted a dynamic risk assessment to determine the appropriate emergency activation level. The risk has been categorized as High and Response Level 2 advised, and efforts to be tailored specifically to the states currently experiencing increased case burden”.”The EOC was activated to ensure seamless coordination of Lassa fever control and management activities using a One Health approach”.He said, in preparation for this outbreak season, critical medical supplies, infection prevention and control (IPC) materials, and laboratory diagnostic tools and materials have been distributed to various states, nationwide.”Lassa Fever testing laboratories have also been expanded from about 9 to 13, and more will still be upgraded “Shared mitigation activities outlined in the Lassa fever preparedness plan, including advisories with all 36 states and the FCT, focusing on the hotspot states (Edo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Ondo and Benue)”, he said. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) caused by the Lassa virus. The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat). Other rodents can also act as carriers of the virus. The virus spreads through: Direct contact with droppings from the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.Contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with infected rats’ urine, faeces, saliva, or blood.Consuming food or water contaminated with these droppings Person-to-Person transmission can also occur through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, vomit, and other body fluids of an infected person.Lassa fever initially presents like other common illnesses accompanied by a fever, such as malaria. Other symptoms include headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain, sore throat, and, in severe cases, bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings. Early presentation to ensure diagnosis and treatment of the diseases can greatly increase the chances of patient survival. Early symptoms should be reported and admitted quickly for early treatment. People of all age groups who come in contact with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.People living in rat-infested environments.People who consume potentially contaminated foodstuff, especially those left open overnight or dried outside in the open.People who handle or process rodents for consumption. People who do not perform hand hygiene at appropriate times. Caretakers of infected persons with poor infection prevention and control measures.Healthcare workers including:Doctors, nurses, and other health workers who provide direct patient care in the absence of standard precautions.Hospital staff who clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces, materials, and supplies without adequate protective gear.Laboratory staff who handle blood samples of suspected Lassa fever patients without appropriate precautions.Persons who prepare and/or handle bodies of deceased Lassa fever cases without appropriate precautions.The NCDC therefore adviced Nigerians in order to reduce the risk of Lassa fever infection:Always keep your environment clean, especially our homes, markets, dump sites to reduce breeding grounds for ratsBlock all holes in your house to prevent the entry of rats and other rodents.Cover your dustbins and dispose of refuse or waste properly. Communities should set up dump sites far from their homes to reduce the chances of the entry of rodents into their homes.Safely store food items such as rice, garri, beans, corn/maize, etc., in tightly sealed or well-covered containers. And avoid open drying of food stuff Properly process or prepare rats (bushmeat) before consumptionAvoid drying food stuff outside on the ground or roadside, where it is at risk of contamination.Discourage bush burning and Deforestation as these can destroy the homes and food sources of rodents, driving them to migrate from the bushes to human residences to find food.Eliminate rats in homes and communities by setting rat traps and other appropriate and safe means.Practice good personal and hand hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap under running water or using hand sanitizers when necessary.Avoid overcrowded living areas as overcrowding leads to poor sanitationAvoid self-medication to ensure proper diagnosis and early treatment.Visit the nearest health facility if you notice any of the signs and symptoms associated with Lassa fever mentioned earlier or call the State Ministry of Health hotline and 6232 (NCDC). This is essential because early identification and treatment of cases are more effective and can save lives.
The Police Command in Cross River has apprehended one Victor Eyop, 35, for alleged trafficking of girls from Nigeria to Libya.
CP Gyogon Grimah, Cross River Commissioner of Police, confirmed this on Monday at a news conference in Calabar.
Grimah explained that on Nov. 9, one Mr Chidi Samuel, in Calabar, reported a case of human trafficking against the suspect.
He said that on that date, Samuel claimed that the suspect and his wife, Mrs Esther Eyop, allegedly recruited Ms Deborah Nyong, 25.
“They also recruited two others, Ms Anita Lawrence, 25, and Ms Mabel Tom, 16, for human trafficking to Libya after they were tested for the Human Immune Virus (HIV) and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs).
“After the test, the suspect took them to his house and the next day gave them a substance they were to mix in their bath water for cleansing before embarking on the journey.
“On Nov. 12, the suspect and his wife drove the girls to Bogobiri Street in Calabar, where they booked tickets and transported them to Kaduna with arrangements with one Hajiya (names unknown) to receive the girls in Kaduna,” he said.
The commissioner noted that while in Kaduna, a taxi driver was sent to pick up the girls and further transported them to Katsina. However, along the road to Katsina, the vehicle developed a fault.
Grimah said it was at this point that the victims realised that they were being trafficked, started contacting people for help and the complainant, Samuel, sent money to them through a Point of Sale (POS) operator along the road.
He said, with that money, they boarded a taxi back to Kaduna and found their way back to Calabar on Nov. 15.
Grimah said that court prosecution would begin the moment the investigation was concluded.
On his part, the suspect claimed that he did not know that what he did was an offense noting that he was only assisting people to travel out.
“I am not a travel agent, but my sister is in Libya, it is through her that the girls are being taken to Libya.
“The girls were aware of the plan from inception that they would be taken to Katsina and from where ‘Hajiya’ would direct them on how to get to Libya,” he narrated. (NAN)
An economist, Prof. Bright Eregha, has urged the federal and state governments to adhere to fiscal discipline and support import substitution to combat rising inflation.
Eregha, who lectures at the Economics Department, Pan Atlantic University, expressed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Monday.
He said that over the past year, the allocation of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to various subnational governments had surged significantly due to economic reforms implemented by the government.
Eregha said that this increase in allocations had raised the money supply within the economy.
According to him, this can also lead to a rise in the current inflation rate if these funds are not channeled into productive sectors.
He stressed the necessity for the governments to invest in mechanised agriculture as a solution to the prevailing food insecurity.
“An increased budgetary allocation to mechanise our agriculture is essential to boost food production, irrespective of whether it is harvest season or not,” he stated.
Eregha argued that such investments would aid the country in achieving self-sufficiency in food production and help mitigate the food-induced inflation currently being experienced.
Also, Prof. Tunde Adeoye, Senior Lecturer, Economics Department, University of Lagos, advocated import substitution to curb the inflation rate.
He stated, “The government should adopt macroeconomic policies that will encourage indigenous companies to commence the production of some imported items locally and be patronised by our people.
“This will strengthen our local capacity and reduce our volume of imports over time, which is exerting too much pressure on our foreign exchange,” he explained.
According to Adeoye, the surge in inflation rate is more of a structural challenge within the general economy.
He said, “The situation has gone beyond the apex bank’s belief that raising interest rates alone will check the inflation rate.
“Our increase in inflation is more of an economic dislocation which is worsened by the government’s current economic reforms.”
He further emphasised the need for the government to be more innovative in addressing the security headwinds that negate food output in the country.
“The government addressing the herders-farmers disputes over the years in food belt states might ameliorate the situation,” Adeoye said.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s inflation rate increased to 34.6 per cent in November, up from 33.8 per cent in October.
The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, released on Dec.16, highlights a 0.72 per cent rise in inflation within a month.
The NBS reported a significant year-on-year increase of 6.4 per cent, compared to the 28.2 per cent inflation rate recorded in November 2023.
On a month-on-month basis, inflation rose by 2.638 per cent in November, a marginal drop of 0.002 percentage points from October’s 2.64 per cent. (NAN)
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