President Bola Tinubu said on Tuesday that his administration is winning the war on terror and banditry.
In a national broadcast on the 64th Independence anniversary of Nigeria, Tinubu said his administration’s target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism in the country.
“On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry.
“Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.
“We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible.
“As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms. We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this,” he added.
He, however, acknowledged the struggles of Nigerians in the challenging times, assuring that his government is on top gear to address the rising cost of living while also tackling unemployment in the country.
“As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.
“Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world.
“Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers.
“The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it,” Tinubu said.
He advised that instead of focusing on what has been left undone and where his government has stumbled as a nation, Nigeria must never lose sight of how far the nation has come in forging and holding the country together.
“Since independence, our nation has survived many crises and upheavals that led to the dissolution and disintegration of many other nations worldwide.
“Six years after independence, our country descended into a political crisis that led to a bitter and avoidable civil war. Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union.
“Despite the many challenges that buffeted our country, we remain a strong, united, and viable sovereign nation.
“Dear compatriots, our independence anniversary gives us another chance to reflect on how far we have gone in our journey to nation-building and to renew our commitment to building a better nation that will serve present and future generations of Nigerians,” he assured.
Tinubu noted that while the country celebrates the progress it has made in the last sixty-four years, it must also recognise some of its missed opportunities and mistakes of the past, saying that if Nigeria is to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as God has destined it to be, its mistakes must not be allowed to follow it into the future.
“My administration took over the leadership of our country 16 months ago at a critical juncture. The economy faced many headwinds, and our physical security was highly impaired. We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture,” he added.
According to him, the economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve Nigerians better and more sustainably.
“If we do not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, our country will face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences.
“Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in the last year,” he noted.
He reaffirmed that his administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of regulatory processes.
“This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
“This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.
“The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production, positively impacting our economy,” he averred.