Governance in Nigeria: President Goodluck Jonathan Speaks and I Quote!

[MyInfoStride]

I just returned from Australia where I attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth. While in Perth, I attended and delivered the keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum with the theme "Unleashing Africa's Potentials: A New Vision". Part of this new vision is that even as we want foreign investors to come to invest in Nigeria we must also look inwards with a vi...ew to doing what is required to cut waste in our society and spend the savings on those things that really impact the lives of the everyday Nigerian. As Nigerians, we want power, good roads, good schools and good homes to live in with our families but we need to understand that if these things are to be a reality Nigeria cannot keep doing the same things we have always done. It is only by prudently managing our resources in such a way that more investments are going into regenerative ventures rather than consumption that we can 'Unleash Africa's Potentials' and ensure that in future summits of the Commonwealth we no longer talk of just potentials rather we would be talking about achievements and potentials fulfilled.

- GEJ
November 01, 2011.

In Nigeria we are taking and are set to take tough economic decisions that will affect everyone, however, we are doing this for the good of the country because we have to think of the present and future generations of Nigeria. This is the major reason why this administration is making allowances for investments in job creation initiatives, infrastructural development as well as intelligent future savings. And the world is taking note. Last week, the global ratings agency, Fitch Ratings, revised Nigeria's ratings upward in all economic indicators. This is good news and an endorsement of Our economic reforms which we will keep at until its positive impact is felt by all Nigerians.

- GEJ
October 28, 2011 at 9:41am.

[MyInfoStride]

In a contest between brothers there cannot be a victor or a vanquished. It is with this attitude that I receive the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal's verdict upholding the April 16th, 2011 Presidential election. Like I said during the campaigns, "I have no enemies to fight". It was true then and true now and so help me God it will be true tomorrow. Now that this verdict has been rendered, I once again stretch out my hand of fellowship to all Nigerians. We are poised to transform Nigeria and I am committed to doing all it takes to bring about this transformation for EVERY Nigerian. I thank God, I thank all Nigerians, and I reaffirm my faith in the judicial process.

- GEJ

[MyInfoStride]

When I assumed the mantle of leadership of Nigeria on the 6th of May, 2010, one of my personal decisions was to prioritize education (being a teacher myself) and the welfare of the Nigerian people (health, the economy and energy security). This explained why the first budget under my watch had the highest allocation going to education and the people's welfare. And I am glad today to report that t...here has been progress.

For instance, the United Nations just released it's Human Development Index which shows a 10% rise in the life expectancy of the average Nigerian from 47.56 years to 51.9 years. The report also corroborates this administration's findings to the effect that infant mortality rates have significantly improved while access to education while still poor has also improved. I assure Nigerians that this is only a beginning. Things will definitely improve and will keep improving. I again refer you to my inaugural address where I promised that I would "never, never let you down" so help me God. That was my promise then and it is my promise for today and tomorrow.

- GEJ

[MyInfoStride]

On April 22nd 2010, when I signed the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Bill 2010 into law, I assured Nigerians that the bill will "address the compelling need for us as a nation to have indigenous participation in the oil industry". Today, I am pleased to note that those words have come to pass with the recent award by Shell Petroleum Development Corporation of a $50 million contr...act to an indigenous firm, SCC Nigeria limited, for the manufacture of line pipes in furtherance of the local content law. This contract which would have been given to a foreign company but for the Local Content law will keep jobs in Nigeria and increase the inflow of foreign exchange into our nation with all the attendant multiplier effects on the economy. This is a fulfillment of the vision I have for Nigeria which is that our laws, resources and government should be dedicated to creating an enabling environment that brings out the creativity already resident in the Nigerian citizen. This is also the reason why this administration introduced the Youth Enterprise With Innovation (YouWin) initiative. I want Nigerians to be the first line beneficiaries of the resources of Nigeria and as God gives me strength, I will ensure that this is the major preoccupation of this administration.

- GEJ

[MyInfoStride]

My personal work ethic as President of Nigeria is that government must be responsive to the governed and this is what I communicated to functionaries of this administration-Ministers, Special Advisers and heads of MDAs and I expect no less. This is why I have given my support to the effort by the minister of aviation and the agencies under that ministry to ensure equitable treatment is meted out t...o Nigerian airlines and travelers. Under my watch, Nigeria will fulfill her commitments to her friends and allies and the general International Community. However, there must be reciprocity and Nigeria and Nigerians must always be treated with the respect we accord others. This is what I stand for and Nigerians should expect this level of representation in all sectors of the polity.

- GEJ

[MyInfoStride]

I read your comments on this page about the state of our roads and in line with my promise to invest Nigeria's resources on projects that are of a direct benefit to the masses, I directed that work on road repairs be prioritized. Presently, if you travel on the Lagos-Ore road, you will notice a marked improvement in the condition of the road which is continuing. The same is true of the Kano-Azare-...Maiduguri, Funtua-Tsafe-Gusau, and Yola-Numan-Gombe roads.

These are your tax Naira at work. I do urge you to keep on giving me feedback on this page as you make use of these and other roads because I desire above everything that this administration meets the needs of Nigerian masses within available resources.

- GEJ

[MyInfoStride]

I promised Nigerians a Transformation Agenda and that means change. And one of the most brilliant minds that ever lived, Albert Einstein, established that we cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results. Thus, if we must have Transformation (and we will have it) there must be changes in how we do things. For instance, we must transform from being a net importer of food to being s...elf sufficient then a net exporter of food. This is possible. In the past two weeks, I have been eating only Cassava bread and I will continue to do this until I leave the State House. We must begin to look inwards and wean ourselves off those products which we can produce locally even if we might have some pains in the short to medium term. We must have gains in Nigeria, but sometimes there is no gain without pain and no Transformation without citizen participation. So let us all prepare to make small changes, from me the President to every Nigerian. And if there is one thing I have learnt, it is not to underestimate the big differences small changes can make.

- GEJ

[MyInfoStride]

Dear friends, I derive my mandate from you and Nigerians. Today, I want to inform you of updates to this page to enhance our conversation. I have included a 'contact me' tab by which you can confidentially send me an email. I have also read your comments here and saw that you were very interested in the YouWIN initiative and as such I have included a 'YouWIN' tab by which you can follow the progress of this job creation scheme. I will continue to be responsive to you and I urge you to please make use of these tools to further our engagements.

- GEJ
December 13,2011 at 10:57am

I am gratified at the news that the International Social Security Association (ISSA) has recognized and awarded Nigeria for the best intervention in reducing Infant and Maternal Mortality in Africa. This is an acknowledgement of the deliberate efforts by government to invest resources in sectors that enhance the Human Development of Nigerians and was also recently validated by the United Nations D...evelopment Programme's 2011 Human Development Index report which also established that in 2011 Nigeria made the most progress ever in growing the Life Expectancy of her citizens from 47.56 years to 51.9 years which represents a 10% increase in the life span of the average Nigerian. Why should a mother die during childbirth if we can help it? Why should an innocent child coming into this world die for no fault of his/hers? It is easy to take these steps of progress for granted, but we should remember that health is wealth and I personally believe that the transformation agenda should include intangibles like improved healthcare in addition to tangibles like improved infrastructure which we are also working on.

- GEJ
December 8,2011 at 10:38am

[MyInfoStride]

Today, I want to congratulate all Nigerians on the successful launch of Nigeria's satellite NigComSat-1R. This satellite will enhance our nation's communications system and increase Internet bandwidth throughout the federation while substantially reducing the over $1 billion cost incurred from the usage of foreign owned satellites for e-commerce activities of both governmental and private sector u...sers all of which are a fulfilment of the goals contained in our nation's 25-year National Space Development Road-map. There cannot be Transformation without technology and the technological benefits from this satellite will flow to all Nigerians whether rural or urban dweller and would also provide the infrastructure needed to provide cashless e-commerce transactions for all Nigerians thus opening up Nigerian businesses and enterprises to markets that are not limited by space or time.

- GEJ
Tuesday, 20th December, 2011.

[MyInfoStride]

A concensus emerged after the civil war that we the people of Nigeria will live together in peace under God our creator. When I took the oath of office on the 29th of May 2011, the constitution of our republic reminded me that the primary duty of government is to secure life and protect property of all citizens.

Although the security challenges we face today is of a type and make never before experienced in our land, I have continued to work with all men and women of good will to stave off this threat to our union. I want to thank all Nigerians who through prayers, facebook messages and letters have encouraged us to remain undaunted in bringing to a close this challenge. Every option known to human civilisation especially the unbiased enforcement of law and order as well as dialogue will be deployed to finding a lasting solution to this present threat.

Let me also use this post to thank the men and women who serve our country in various security formations at this trying time. Your sacrifices and duty to Nigeria is greatly appreciated. It is true that security operation strategies are not things you discuss in the open, I want to inform you my friends on facebook that these gallant men and women have prevented and forestalled several situations that would otherwise have led to more national misery and pain. As the security forces close the gap and build up capacity to meet these national and international crimes against our common humanity, I want to request all patriots to give them every support needed.

May God bless Nigeria.

GEJ
02-02-2012