President Muhammadu Buhari in his New Year speech said his
administration is committed to protecting all Nigerians and diversifying the
economy.
The president in the speech which he personally signed and
issued on Friday 31 Dec 2021 said he is grateful to the Almighty God for yet
another Year attained as a country.
According to him, the linchpin of his agenda in 2022 will be
the ICT sector.
“In year 2022 and going forward, our Administration would
intentionally leverage ICT platforms to create jobs, while ensuring that the
diversification of our economy creates more support to other emerging sectors”,
he said.
Read his full speech below.
1. We remain grateful to the Almighty God for yet another
Year attained as a country, united by a common destiny and resolute in our
determination to overcome the several challenges along the path to build the
great and prosperous nation of our dream.
2. I salute the courage and resilience of all Nigerians,
which was evident in 2021 as this nation, like other countries of the world,
faced significant challenges that occurred as a consequence of the COVID-19
pandemic and the efforts to restore the global economy and social order.
3. The persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country
may have threatened to unravel the incremental gains achieved in the real
sectors of the economy and in the administration’s overall objective to
position the nation on the irreversible trajectory of sustainable growth and
progress, but I assure you that we will remain resolute in our commitments and
shall continue to press ahead with our programmes and plans.
4. The path to nationhood is often fraught with
unpredictable difficulties and challenges, and most tried and tested nations
have often prevailed through dogged determination, resilience, concerted
commitment to unity, and the conviction that the whole of the nation, standing
together against all odds, is by far greater and would ultimately be more
prosperous and viable than the sum of its distinguishable parts.
5. There is no doubt that the issue of Security remains at
the front burner of priority areas that this Administration has given utmost
attention to. As a follow up to our promise to re-energize and reorganize the
security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police, it is on
record that this Administration has invested heavily in re-equipping our
military in line with upgrading the platforms and firepower required to tackle
the current challenges being faced in the country.
6. The net results of these efforts have been the number of
insurgents and bandits who have willingly surrendered to our Security Forces
and continue to do so through various channels and the Safe Corridor created
for that purpose.
7. Government, however, realizes that victory on the
battlefield is just one aspect of sustainable victory. We know that to fully
win this war, we must also win the peace and real security lies in winning the
hearts and minds of the affected citizens. To this end, working with our
international partners and neighbouring countries, we would be deploying
multi-faceted solutions that will be targeted at addressing human security at
the grassroots, before it leads to insecurity.
8. Once again I would like to take a moment to remember and
honour the gallant Military, Police Officers, and other security agents who
have lost their lives in the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of
this Nation against both internal and external aggressors, assuring their
families that their sacrifices would not be in vain.
9. We equally remember and commiserate with Nigerians who
have lost loved ones as a result of insecurity in different parts of the
country. Every life matters and every single death caused by any form of
insecurity is a matter of personal concern to me both as a citizen and as the
President of this great country.
10. We remain fully committed to upholding the
constitutional provisions that protect all Nigerians from any form of internal
and external aggression.
11. On the economy, we have shown a high level of resilience
to record some significant achievements despite the turbulence that has
characterized our economy and indeed the global economy. The lessons we have
learned and keep learning from COVID-19 have encouraged us to intensify efforts
to mitigate its socio-economic effects on our Nation.
12. The major wins we have recorded can be clearly seen in
Nigeria’s most recent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures released by the
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The 4.03% growth recorded in the third
quarter of 2021 is indicative of the recovery being recorded in our economy and
the confidence that is being shown through the policies that our Administration
has put in place after the outbreak of the pandemic.
13. We may also recall that this recent growth is closely
followed by the 5.1% (year on year) growth in real terms recorded by Nigeria in
Quarter 2 of 2021. This growth was one of the best recorded by any nation
across Sub-Saharan Africa. The 5.1% growth at that time was and remains the
highest growth recorded by the Nigerian economy since 2014.
14. Despite the challenges we have faced as a Nation, the
good news is that we have so far recorded four consecutive quarters of growth
after the negative growth rates recorded in Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2020 due
to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
15. On August 16, 2021, I signed the landmark Petroleum
Industry Act into law. The signing of this legacy legislation is a watershed
moment in the history of our Nation, considering the massive positive impact
the new Act would have on the economy. I would like to sincerely commend the
9th Assembly for the grit they demonstrated, succeeding where others have
failed, and the cooperation that led to the completion of this process after
almost two decades.
16. Just like I stated during the investment trips and fora
that I have attended recently, the legislation is expected to serve as a
liberalizing force in the energy industry, and we are optimistic that this law
will provide the much-needed legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework
for the development of the energy sector, the host communities, and Nigeria as
a Nation. Our objective to increase Liquefied Natural Gas exports and expand
our domestic market is still very much at the forefront of some of the policies
we would be pushing in the new year.
17. In year 2022 and going forward, our Administration would
intentionally leverage ICT platforms to create jobs, while ensuring that the
diversification of our economy creates more support to other emerging sectors.
I am proud to announce that several foreign investors are taking advantage of
our ranking as one of the leading start-up ecosystems in Africa to invest in
our digital economy.
18. We have given the utmost priority to fighting corruption
and other related offenses which have been a bane to the growth and prosperity
of our dear Nation. We have made major strides and breakthroughs through the
innovative use of technology and forensics in the investigative and
prosecutorial procedures with commendable results to show that the
anti-corruption drive of our Administration is succeeding.
19. In the meantime, the accomplishments that have been
recorded so far can be traced to the dedication of the Nation’s anti-corruption
Agencies who have received the necessary support needed to effectively
prosecute their duties.
20. Despite our challenges in 2021, it was also a year in
which the Administration executed successfully, key projects, programmes, and
initiatives to fulfil the promises made under the Security, Economy
Anti-corruption (SEA) agenda.
21. As we welcome 2022, let us, with hope, envision a year
of continued progress against our combined challenges arising from security and
socio-economic issues.
22. As it is said, the past is but a story told, the future
will still be written in gold. Let us be united in our fight to keep our Nation
united against all odds and with gratitude, celebrate life in this new epoch.
23. I wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year.
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