By Ibraheem Alhassan.
(ibrahazal@yahoo.com)
Nigeria in the next ten days will attain fourteen years of return to democratic governance from 1999, with three successful administrations which include the present one headed by Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Despite the challenges that confronted the government, especially the insurgency in the North which led to the recent presidential proclamation of state of emergency in three states of the federation – Borno, Yobe and Adamawa; the government is undaunted in providing governance as prescribed in its policy trust of transformation agenda.
There are visible achievements in most critical sectors which in the past defied all actions from the previous administrations; the present government has begun addressing these challenges.
In agriculture, the country is making headway with the massive production of metric tons of rice, cassava and cotton as revealed through the last National Good Governance Tour (NGGT) of Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina states respectively.
Ginnery production centre is beginning to surface in most states of the north, after thirty years of extinction. The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaram Maku, expressed optimism that the cotton and the famous groundnut pyramids will come back and Nigerian will soon take her pride of place in the production and exportation of these cash crops, if the large scale and chain of production is sustained.
Another feat that is worthy of mention under the revolutionary drive in agricultural sector is Nigeria being ranked as the world's largest producer of cassava, possibly next to Brazil. Recently, the country has exported cassava chips from individual farmer, this being in addition to government policy of 10% cassava flour inclusion in bread baking.
If one takes a look at road infrastructure, the present government is doing more than what has been done by previous regimes. Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, said on a phone-in radio programme recntly, that the achievement of the present administration on road construction and maintenance is not a fluke. He said some of the roads' projects traversing the country have been given attention. Some of the roads' projects include the East – West road, Shagamu – Ore – Benin road and many others. Work on the roads is being vigorously pursued with a view to provide succor to Nigerian road users through the intervention of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). The Abuja – Lokoja road and that of Kano – Maiduguri dual carriage ways are also receiving attention.
In the transportation sector, a silent revolutionary is also taking place. Shortly after independence, Nigeria's rail system went comatose. For the first time in many years, this government is resuscitating the sector. Rail transportation from Lagos to Kano has since resumed. The famous Iddo Railway Terminus in Lagos is getting back its vibrancy. Dr. Okupe revealed in the radio programme that the Port-Harcourt-Maduguri rail link is about being completed. This is in addition to the maritime projects to facilitate alternative means of movement of persons and goods through the water ways. The dredging of the lower River Niger in Lokoja, Kogi State is nearing completion. This will no doubt open up economic activities in the area where jetties were constructed. Indeed, the pressure that made the country's high ways to be overwhelmed would be minimized.
The much talked about sector, which is Power sector, albeit with some noticeable hiccups, is having noticeable improvement given the measures taken by this government. There has been improved output from the national generation of electricity. The Senior Presidential Assistant was to let the nation know that the remaining challenge in the Power sector is from the distribution networks. To him, the archaic facilities for distribution are responsible for the hiccups in the Power sector. He assured that "This he said will soon be a thing of the past."
On fight against corruption, the government is doing its best to tackle the monster that undermines the prospects of our development. Dr. Okupe said the problem is not with Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, it is a problem of the country's laws. He said some of these laws are as old as the country's independence, he said with the current leadership of the Judiciary; a reform is in place to give way for speedy dispensation of justice.
On the recent declaration of emergency, the consideration of the issues by the nation's legislature has revealed that the government acted in a good faith to forestall further impunity and upsurge of violence from the radical Islamic sect that affected the States.
Even at that, it is instructive to note that the President has already cautioned the military while carrying out the exercise to beware of their rules of engagement.
Also recently, President Goodluck Jonathan graciously approved the disbursement of ₦5,747,649, 780.00 to the States affected by the 2011 post-election violence and civil disturbances to assist the victims. The Vice President, Namadi Sambo, while making the disbursement said, "It is with deepest sense of sorrow that President Goodluck Jonathan and indeed, the entire government and the people of Nigeria remain deeply pained by the violent acts and civil disturbances that necessitated today's event". He however reinstated that the programmes of the administration are on course and no amount of crisis will deter the government from delivering good governance.
With the above, Nigerians have enough cause to celebrate next democracy day, come 29 May, 2013. The celebration will help us all to reflect on the journey so far, with a view to make amends where necessary.
Ibraheem Al-hassan, writes in from the National Press Centre, Abuja.Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria