My dear Nigerians,

October 1st remains a special date for all Nigerians as this marks the day when we attained one of the most precious of human desires — freedom.

Over the years the country has gone through trials and tribulations, but October 1st is always a day for celebrations.

It is a day for thanks giving, reflection and re-dedication.

It is also a day for remembrance. We should remind ourselves of the recent journey from 1999 – 2015, when our country happily returned to democratic rule.

However, in spite of oil prices being an average of $100 per barrel and about 2.1m barrels a day, that great piece of luck was squandered and the country’s social and physical infrastructure neglected.

We were left with no savings and huge infrastructure deficit.

The APC Government’s Campaign rallying cry to restore security, re-balance the economy and fight corruption was not all rhetoric.

The country must first be secured. The economy must be re-balanced so that we do not depend on oil alone. We must fight corruption which is Nigeria’s Number One Enemy. Our Administration is tackling these tasks in earnest.

In the past two years, Nigeria has recorded appreciable gains in political freedom. A political Party at the Centre losing elections of State Governor, National Assembly seat and even State Assemblies to the opposition parties is new to Nigeria. Added to these are complete freedom to associate, to hold and disseminate opinions. Such developments clearly attest to the country’s growing political development. But like all freedoms, this is open to abuse.

Recent calls on re-structuring, quite proper in a legitimate debate, has let in highly irresponsible groups to call for dismemberment of the country. We can not and we will not allow such advocacy.

As a young Army Officer, I took part from the beginning to the end in our tragic civil war costing about 2m lives, resulting in fearful destruction and untold suffering. Those who are agitating for a re-run were not born by 1967 and have no idea of the horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we went through.

I am very disappointed that responsible leaders of these communities do not warn their hot-headed youths what the country went through. Those who were there should tell those who were not there, the consequences of such folly.

At all events, proper dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should take place in a rational manner, at the National and State Assemblies. These are the proper and legal fora for National debate, not some lop-sided, un-democratic body with pre-determined set of objectives.

Government is keeping up the momentum of dialogue with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to keep the peace. We intend to address genuine grievances of the communities.

Government is grateful to the responsible leadership of those communities and will pursue lasting peace in the Niger Delta.

SECURITY

On security, Nigerians must be grateful to our gallant Armed Forces for rolling back the frontiers of Boko Haram’s terrorism, defeating them and reducing them to cowardly attacks on soft and vulnerable targets.

Nigeria is grateful to its neighbours and the international community for the collective efforts to defeat this world-wide menace of terrorism.

Not even the most organized and most equipped police and security forces in the world can escape the menace of modern day terrorism, as we have seen in recent years in Europe and other parts of the world.

But we are not letting up. Our Armed Forces in an effort to enhance the operational capability of troops of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE have established Mobile Strike Teams in the North East. These will ensure the final push to wipe out the remnants of Boko Haram.

In addition, through targeted air strikes most of the leadership and identified logistics bases and routes of the insurgents have been neutralized. The Armed Forces have established a Naval presence in the Lake Chad Basin as part of the coordinated military efforts to curtail the movements or re-emergence of the sect in the area.

Government is working round the clock to ensure release of the remaining Chibok girls, as well as other persons in Boko Haram captivity. Government will continue to support the Armed Forces and other security agencies to fight not only terrorism, but kidnapping, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers violence and to ensure peace, stability and security in our country.

ECONOMY

With respect to the economy, the Government has remained pro-active in its diversification policy. The Federal Government’s agricultural Anchor Borrowers Programme, which I launched in November 2015, has been an outstanding success with:

· N43.92 billion released through the CBN and 13 participating institutions,
· 200,000 small holder farmers from 29 states of the federation benefitting,
· 233,000 hectares of farmland cultivating eight commodities, namely Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, soya-beans, Poultry, Cassava and Groundnuts, in addition to fish farming.

These initiatives have been undertaken in close collaboration with the states. I wish to commend the efforts of the Governors of Kebbi, Lagos, Ebonyi and Jigawa States for their support to the rice and fertilizer revolutions.

Equally commendable are contributions of the Governors of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Benue, Ogun, Kaduna and Plateau States for their support for the Presidential initiative for palm oil, rubber, cashew, cassava, potatoes and others crops.

With the abundance of rainfall last year and this year, agriculture has enjoyed Divine intervention.

Since December last year, this Administration has produced over 7 million 50Kg bags of fertilizer. Eleven blending plants with a capacity of 2.1 million metric tons have been reactivated. We have saved $150 million in foreign exchange and N60 billion in subsidy. Fertilizer prices have dropped from N13,000 per 50Kg bag to N5,500.

Furthermore, a new presidential initiative is starting with each state of the Federation creating a minimum of 10,000 jobs for unemployed youths, again with the aid of CBN’s development finance initiatives.

Power remains a huge problem. As of September 12th, production of power reached an all — time high of 7,001 Megawatts. Government is increasing its investment, clearing up the operational and financial log jam bedeviling the industry. We hope to reach 10,000 Megawatts by 2020.

Key priorities include better energy mix through solar and Hydro technologies. I am glad to say that after many years of limbo, Mambilla Power Project has taken off.

Elsewhere in the economy the special window created for manufacturers, investors and exporters, foreign exchange requirements has proved very effective. Since April, about $7 billion has come through this window alone. The main effect of these policies is improved confidence in the economy and better investment sentiments.

The country has recorded 7 consecutive months of lower inflation, Naira rate is beginning to stabilize, appreciating from N525 per $1 in February this year to N360 today. Broad-based economic growth is leading us out of recession.

Furthermore, in order to stabilize the polity, the Federal Government gave additional support to states in the form of:

· State Excess Crude Account loans,
· Budget Support Facility,
· Stabilization Fund Release
to state and local government as follows:
· N200 billion in 2015
· N441 billion in 2016
· N1 trillion in 2017

Altogether totaling N1.642 trillion.

This was done to enable states to pay outstanding salaries, pensions and small business suppliers who had been all but crippled over the years.

In addition, the Government’s current N500 billion Special Intervention Programme is targeting groups through;

· Home Grown School Feeding Programme,
· N-Power Job creation to provide loans to small-scale traders and artisans,
· Conditional Cash Transfer,
· Family Homes Fund and
· Social Housing Scheme.

CORRUPTION

Fellow Nigerians,

We are fully aware that fighting corruption was never going to be a straightforward task. We expected corrupt elements to use any weapon to fight back, mainly judicial obstruction and political diversion. But we are determined to eradicate corruption from our body politic.

In this fight, the Government has:
· Empowered teams of prosecutors,
· Assembled detailed databases,
· Accelerated the recovery of stolen funds.

The Administration’s new institutional reforms include:
· Enforcing Treasury Single Account,
· Whistle-Blowers Policy,
· Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System.

We have signed multi-lateral cooperation agreements on criminal matters with friendly countries. There are signs of increasing cooperation from the Judiciary. Recently the Chief Justice of the Federation directed Heads of all our Courts of first instance and Appeal to accelerate hearings of corruption cases and dismiss any judicial officers found to have been compromised.

Justice Salami has just been appointed to chair the Judiciary’s anti-graft committee. Government expects a lot from this Committee.

I commend the National Assembly for refocusing on its oversight committees. They should, in addition, ensure swift passage of enabling corruption laws. But fighting corruption is a bottom to top operation. I call on all Nigerians to combat corruption at every turn. By not asking for and refusing to accept a bribe, by reporting unethical practices or by blowing a whistle, together we can beat corruption. The government for its part will work for accountability at all levels – Federal, State and Local Governments. CHANGE will then be real.

As we enter the second half of our term of office, we intend to accelerate progress and intensify our resolve to fix the country’s challenges and problems.

Thank you and a happy holiday to all of you.

God bless our country.

• We appreciate efforts of the Igbo leaders in the North in peace building

By Auwal Mohammed

Gombe (Nigeria) — Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) in northeast Nigeria, has urged people in the country not to react to rumours capable of jeopardizing the unity and peace process across the nation.

North East Coordinator of the group, Mohammed Tasi’u Pantami made the call in a statement issued in Gombe on Sunday, as part of activities marking the 57^th independence anniversary of the country and 21^st anniversary of Gombe State.

Pantami stated that the group met with elders and community leaders from across the zone with a view to curtailing any breakdown of law and order, urging the citizens not to react to any news or rumour regarding the South-East.

“We are calling on our people in the Northeast region to continue to exercise patience and remain calm and not to react to any news or rumour about the South-East,” he said.

He noted that the CNG recognizes the right of Nigerians to live in any part of the country, adding that the group has embarked on a deliberate effort to foster unity and peace among the diverse ethnic and religious groups in the zone.

The CNG commended both the federal and state governments for efforts in averting the crisis as a result of the political impasse between the North and South-East.

“We also wish to appreciate the efforts of the Igbo leaders in the North, who continue to condemn the actions of IPOB, led by Nnmandi Kanu,” the group said.

By Amos Tauna

The chief Ardo of Bajju Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, Abdullahi Avong, has called on the Fulani, who left the area during the crisis that engulfed the part of the state to return.

Speaking at a cross cultural peace festival organized by Search for Common Ground, a Non-Governmental Organization in Zonkwa, Abdullahi Avong explained that peace has since been restored in the area.

He enjoined both farmers and Fulanis to continue to dialogue with one another for the sustenance of peace in the area, stressing that they have both come a long way in their existence in various communities that made up Southern Kaduna.

The chief Ardo noted that as relative peace is being restored in the area, people should avoid hate speech that could create panic and apprehension, pointing out that through the cultural displayed, people have different life styles, but should try to accommodate one another for a better society.

The programme organised by Search for Common Ground in partnership with the Justice Development and Peace Caritas Jos, with the support of the United State Agency for International Development, USAID, featured cultural and drama presentations from the different cultural groups in Zangon Kataf local government.

Giving an overview on the purpose of the programme, the Associate State Coordinator Kaduna and Nasarawa states Search for Common Ground, Mr. Chorbe Joshua, said the organization realises the importance of mutual respect for the diverse cultures in the society and the need to understand and appreciate same by all for a more peaceful and harmonious society.

He advised those present to always ensure to always seek to resolve their differences through dialogue and in a non adversarial manner ‎instead of resorting to arms for vengeance that would not be to the development of the area.

“Let me say here that we are not in your community to teach you how to live in peace with one another but to encourage you to learn to be your brother’s keeper as we need each other to survive,” he added.

Earlier in a welcome address, the chairman, local organising committee of the cross cultural peace festival and community leader of Kurmin – Bi in Bajju Chiefdom, ‎Mr Ishaku Gado, said the participating groups were drawn from all the ethnic groups across the local government.

He appreciated the effort of Search for Common Ground on the need to live together irrespective of tribal or ethnic differences, noting that it has improved on the level of tolerance amongst them.

In their various goodwill messages, the Commander Special Task Force Zango Kataf, Divisional Police Officer Zonkwa and the representatives of all the four traditional chiefdoms in the local government commended the foresight of the organisers in championing the cause of peace and urge the people to always be security conscious and assist security agencies with useful information that may distort the existing peace in the area.

Various ethnic groups ‎participated in the cultural festival and a drama presentation depicting the theme of inter-marriages and the importance of forgiveness and tolerance among the people.

By Amos Tauna

Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission, SIECOM, said elections into the positions of Chairmanship and Councillors for the 23 local government areas of the state will hold on 30th December, 2017.

Chairman of SIECOM, Saratu Binta Dikko Audu, who disclosed this at an interactive session with stakeholders, at the commission’s headquarters Friday in Kaduna, also said Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) would be used in the conduct of the election.

According to her, “In compliance with the appropriate provisions of the law formally announce that the Commission has completed plans to hold elections to positions of Chairman, vice chairman and Councillors in all 23 local government areas of Kaduna State on Saturday, 30th December, 2017.

“We shall be using Electronic Voting machines and smart Card readers in the conduct of these elections. All citizens who have been issued with the INEC permanent voters cards shall be eligible to participate in the election.”

By the notice of the election date, she said electioneering campaign by political parties and candidates are authorised to begin.

“Party primaries may be organised as from 10th October until 14th November, 2017. Political parties are reminded that staff of the commission must be officially invited to witness the party primaries with electioneering campaign to end at midnight of 29th December, 2017.

“Stakeholders, especially political parties and candidates are strongly advised to ensure that they follow strictly the election timetable and guidelines being released today and also to ensure that they do not offend the state electoral law.

“We wish to appeal to all stakeholders to observe good conduct and avoid acts and pronouncements that can result in conflict situations.

“Candidates must respect our environment by ensuring that their campaign materials do not destroy our delicate and serene environment in Kaduna State.

“KADSIECOM wishes to appeal to all stakeholders especially the political parties, their candidates and all politicians to respect the rule of law, avoid hate speech and violence and ensure that these elections are peaceful.”

On the part of the commission, the Chairman assured conduct of a free, fair and credible polls.