President Muhammadu Buhari has assured
Nigerians that he would do everything necessary to
secure oil facilities and other government assets in
the Niger Delta region.
The president gave the assurance during the
democracy day lecture organised yesterday being
Tuesday in Abuja by the Save Democracy Group
Africa, to mark the 2016 democracy day.
The theme of the lecture is, the Change Agenda and
Sustenance of Nigerian Democracy.
The President was represented by Secretary to
Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal
He said while his government would not shy away
from finding non-military solution to the vandalism
and destruction of oil facilities in the country, it
would not succumb to intimidation and blackmail by
any criminal element.
“You will agree with me that two major reasons why
our economy is in such a deplorable condition is
the slump in crude oil prices.
“It is also due to decline in production as a result of
the recent upsurge in activities of criminals and
saboteurs in the oil producing region.
“While the control of the selling price of our crude oil
is not solely in our hands, the challenge of militancy,
criminality and vandalism is solely within our
control.
“I therefore wish to restate that I have directed all
the nation’s security outfits to take all steps
necessary to secure the oil facilities and other
government assets in the Niger Delta region.
“While our doors are open to dialogue, political and
non-military solution on the matter, this government
will not succumb to intimidation and blackmail by
criminal element, coming to inflict further
unnecessary social and economic hardship on the
citizens.’’
He urged the perpetrators to desist from the act or
face the consequences.
On insecurity in the North East as well as herdsmen
and farmers clashes across the country, the
President assured that it would not rest on its oars
in finding lasting solution to the problems.
“ In the area of insecurity, I can gladly report that
the government has recovered territories hitherto
under the control of insurgency in the North East.
“What remains is the ongoing military campaign to
mop up pockets of insurgents scattered in forests
and mountains of the region.
“In the meantime government has started resettling
the returning internally displaced persons to their
original localities.
“The challenging task of rebuilding the region will
start in earnest with the implementation of the 2016
Budget of Change.
“As to the rampant cattle-herdsmen clashes across
the country, the Federal Government is partnering
with state governments to find a lasting solution to
the unfortunate menace.
“Among the solution being considered is the
establishment of animal grazing reserve and other
policies targeted at encouraging the nomad
herdsmen to adopt modern methods of animal
rearing.
“In the meantime, I have directed all security
agencies to bring all perpetrators of the clashes to
book. I wish to assure all Nigerians that there will be
no sacred cows,’’ he said.
He commended the electorate for voting the All
Progressives Congress (APC) into power, assuring
that his government would continue to work in their
interest.
“I can say unequivocally that the electorate made
the right choice at the right time considering that
this government came into power at the very brink
of the collapse of our economy.
“Then for 16 years the nation was charaterised by
flagrant misrule and impunity, resulting in
unimaginable corruption, insecurity, massive
unemployment, and economic meltdown.
“In order to arrest the slide into total social and
economic chaos, this government has to take very
difficult and painful decisions.
“Decisions required putting the nation back into the
path of good governance by the rule of law.
“Restoring hope and security among its citizens and
providing a sustainable and enduring environment
for employment and economic growth.
He promised that the implementation of some of the
government’s reforms would start with the
implementation of the 2016 budget.
The guest lecturer, Prof. Ibrahim Gamabari, called
for concerted effort to corruption and other vices
that had affected development of the country.
