President Muhammadu Buhari has lauded the courage and resilience of Nigerians, which was evident in 2021 as the nation faced significant challenges that occurred as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts to restore the global economy and social order.
Buhari said in his message to Nigerians on Saturday to mark the New Year day celebration that the persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country might 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 and assured Nigerians that “we will remain resolute in our commitments and shall continue to press ahead with our programmes and plans”.
He noted that 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.
Speaking on insecurity, Buhari assured that “we remain fully committed to upholding the constitutional provisions that protect all Nigerians from any form of internal and external aggression”.
On the economy, he said that the nation had 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,” he said.
He disclosed that the outcome of his recent investment trips and fora would 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.
“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.
“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,” he said.
GIK/APA