TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will not allow Niger Delta militants to hold the country to ransom.

Buhari said this in his speech on the 56th independence anniversary of the country.

He also sympathised with Nigerians over the current economic crisis, saying it would not last for long because he had already taken steps to revive the economy.

“A new insurgency has reared up its head in the shape of blowing up gas and oil pipelines by groups of Niger Delta militants,” he said.

“This administration will not allow these mindless groups to hold the country to ransom.

“What sense is there to damage a gas line as a result of which many towns in the country including their own town or village is put in darkness?  What logic is there in blowing up an export pipeline and as a result income to your state and local governments and consequently their ability to provide services to your own people is reduced?

“No group can unlawfully challenge the authority of the federal government and succeed.  Our administration is fully sympathetic to the plight of the good people of Niger Delta and we are in touch with the state governments and leaderships of the region.  It is known that the clean-up of the Ogoniland has started.  Infrastructural projects financed by the federal government and post amnesty programme financing will continue.

“We have however, continued to dialogue with all groups and leaders of thought in the region to bring lasting peace.”

He admitted that there was hardship in the land, but implored Nigerians not to allow temporary problems to blind them from the “corrective course his government had charted for the nation”.

He said his administration had identified the country’s salient problems and was working hard at lasting solutions.

“I know that uppermost in your minds today is the economic crisis. The recession for many individuals and families is real. For some, it means not being able to pay school fees, for others it’s not being able to afford the high cost of food (rice and millet) or the high cost of local or international travel, and for many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after graduating from university or polytechnic,” he said.

“I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. All my adult life I have always earned a salary and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices.

“But let me say to all Nigerians today, I ran for office four times to make the point that we can rule this nation with honesty and transparency, that we can stop the stealing of Nigeria’s resources so that the resources could be used to provide jobs for our young people, security, infrastructure for commerce, education and healthcare.

“I ran for office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity and abundance for all. I remain resolutely committed to this objective.

“I believe that this recession will not last.”