The Federal Government on Wednesday said it took the admonition contained in a recent press statement issued by former President Olusegun Obasanjo “in good faith’’.
The government’s response was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
“We have no reason to believe that Obasanjo has any motive beyond the well-being of the nation in issuing his Special Press Statement.
“We have also taken his admonition in good faith, and we thank him most sincerely for taking time off his busy schedule to pen such a long statement’’.
Mohammed said that the government appreciated what Obasanjo said concerning the administration’s performance in two out of the three key issues that formed the plank of its campaign: Fighting corruption and tackling insurgency.
“Specifically, Obasanjo said President Buhari must be given credit for his achievement so far in these two areas. We thank him for this,’’ he said.
The minister said that, however, in the area of economy where Obasanjo scored the administration low, the government had performed creditably.
“We believe that Chief Obasanjo, because of his very busy schedule, may not have been fully availed of developments in the government’s efforts to revamp
the economy, which was battered by the consequences of over-dependence on a commodity as well as unprecedented pillaging of the treasury.
“Today, most of the indices by which an economy is measured are looking up.
“Permit me to say, however, that Nigeria would not have exited recession through a mere order or if the administration had not made use of “good Nigerians’’ who could help.
“This administration is making steady progress in its determined effort to revamp the economy, and the results are showing,’’ he said.
Specifically, the minister said that Foreign Reserves had peaked at 40 billion dollars which was the highest in about four years.
He added that the foreign reserve was up from 24 billion dollars, a year back, notwithstanding that the price of oil crashed woefully when they assumed office.
He said that from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report, headline inflation had fallen for 11 consecutive months, standing at 15.37 per cent in Dec., 2017.
“Our determined implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has stopped the hemorrhaging of the treasury.
“Some N108 billion has been saved from removal of maintenance fees payable to banks, pre-TSA.
“The nation is being saved N24.7 billion monthly with the full implementation of the TSA and the elimination of ghost workers has saved the nation N120 billion,’’ he said
The minister said that in the wake of a stable Naira and increased investment inflows, Nigeria’s stock market emerged one of the best-performing in the world, delivering returns in excess of 40 per cent.
“Nigeria rose 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, and earned a place on the List of Top 10 Reformers in the world,’’ he said.
Mohammed said that in the third quarter of 2017, agriculture export was up year-on-year by 25 per cent and solid minerals exports were up by 78 per cent.
“Government agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service are reporting highest-ever revenue collection.
“JAMB, under the new management appointed by President Buhari in 2016, remitted N7.8 billion to the coffers of the Federal Government.
“The total amount remitted by JAMB between 2010 and 2016 was a paltry N51 million,’’ he said.
Mohammed said that the government had done creditably well in the agricultural sector and the bumper harvest being recorded would bring down the cost of foodstuffs, especially such staple as rice.
He also assured that the Social Investment Programme of government would ease the pain of the most vulnerable in the society.
The minister said that the Buhari-led administration’s investment in infrastructure was unprecedented.
He said Power Generation was at an all-time high of 7,000mw and all could be transmitted
Mohammed said that in the rail sector, “Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge is on, and Lagos-Ibadan sector and Kano-Kaduna will be ready in 2019’’.
He added that negotiations were ongoing for Coastal Rail covering 15 cities from Lagos to Calabar.
The minister said that 25 major highways were being funded with the N100b Sukuk Bond, and all geo-political zones were benefitting equally
“This administration is not unaware of the enormity of the challenges facing the nation, but we are up to the task.
“We have taken the bull by the horn, and long-suffering Nigerians will begin to experience a new lease of life as our efforts yield fruits.
“We will not go into a state of temper for whatever reason,’’ he said.
Full text of the statement:
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE, ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED, ON WEDNESDAY, 24 JAN. 2018
We have read the press statement by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the State of the Nation.
For the record, Chief Obasanjo is a patriot, and he has proven this time and time again. We appreciate what he said concerning the Administration’s performance in two out of the three key issues that formed the plank of its campaign: Fighting corruption and tackling insurgency. Specifically, the former President said President Buhari must be given credit for his achievement so far in these two areas. We thank him for this.
Apparently, the former President believes that the Administration does not deserve a pass mark in the area of the economy, which is the third of our three-pronged campaign promises.
We have no doubt that in the face of massive challenges in this area, this Administration has availed itself creditably. We believe that Chief Obasanjo, because of his very busy schedule, may not have been fully availed of developments in the government’s efforts to revamp the economy, which was battered by the consequences of over-dependence on a commodity as well as unprecedented pillaging of the treasury.
Today, most of the indices by which an economy is measured are looking up. Permit me to say, however, that Nigeria would not have exited recession through a mere order or if the Administration had not made use of ”good Nigerians” who could help.
This Administration is making steady progress in its determined effort to revamp the economy, and the results are showing:
* Foreign Reserves have peaked at $40b, the highest level in about four years, and up from $24 billion just a year ago, even though when we came in, the price of oil had crashed woefully.
* According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBC), headline inflation has fallen for 11 consecutive months, standing at 15.37% as at Dec. 2017. This is the lowest inflation rate since Jan 2017, and it has met and surpassed the target set for inflation in the Administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
* Our determined implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has stopped the hemorrhaging of the treasury. Some 108 billion Naira has been saved from removal of maintenance fees payable to banks, pre-TSA. The nation is being saved 24.7 billion Naira monthly with the full implementation of the TSA.
* The elimination of ghost workers has saved the nation 120 billion Naira
* At about 1.8 billion dollars, the capital inflows in the second quarter of 2017 were almost double the $908 million in the first quarter.
* In the wake of a stable Naira and increased investment inflows, Nigeria’s stock market emerged one of the best-performing in the world, delivering returns in excess of 40 percent.
* Nigeria rose 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, and earned a place on the List of Top 10 Reformers in the world.
* According to Q3 2017 figures, agriculture export is up year-on-year by 25%, solid minerals exports are up year-on-year by 78%, raw materials exports are up 70% year-on-year and manufactured goods exports are up 22% year-on-year.
* Government agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service are reporting highest ever revenue collection, while JAMB, under the new management appointed by President Buhari in 2016, remitted N7.8 billion to the coffers of the federal government. The total amount remitted by JAMB between 2010 and 2016 was a paltry N51 million!
These positive indices may not have immediately impacted positively on Nigerians, but Nigerians will definitely get a new lease of life a short while from now. This is because the good news from the agricultural sector, which is recording a bumper harvest, will bring down the cost of foodstuffs, especially such staple as rice, and our massive Social Investment Programme will ease the pain of the most vulnerable in the society.
When we assumed office in 2015, some 6 million farmers were involved in rice production. Thanks to the Anchor Borrowers’ programme of this Administration, we have grown that number to over 12 million farmers. The result is that our rice import from Thailand alone has dropped from 644,000 metric tonnes to 22,000 MT in just two years. This is phenomenal.
Apart from rice, Nigeria is also doing well in other grains, especially Millet, Sorghum and Maize. We are now the second largest producer of sorghum after the US, the third in millet after India and our breweries are now enjoying local sourcing of those commodities.
For maize, we are producing 10 million tons while we need about 13 million tons for both human and animal nutrition. Nigeria leads the world in the yam and cassava production. We account for 70% of the world’s yam production. In two years, we hope to be the world’s largest exporter of yam! Overall, our ambition is that agriculture should rise from 25% to 40% of GDP, so that we can banish poverty and overcome our economic anxiety.
Our Social Investment Programme is Nigeria’s most ambitious social welfare programme ever. Currently, 5.2 million primary school children in 28,249 schools in 19 states are being fed daily; 200,000 unemployed graduates have enlisted into the N-power Job Scheme, and a quarter of a million loans already distributed to artisans, traders, and farmers.
Finally, our investment in infrastructure is simply unprecedented. This is because infrastructure is key to faster economic growth and development.
Here is a synopsis of what we have done in this area:
* Power Generation at an all-time high of 7,000mw and all can be transmitted
* RAIL: Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge is on. Lagos-Ibadan sector ready 2019, Kano Kaduna ready 2019; The entire stretch ready 2021; Negotiations on for Coastal Rail covering 15 cities from Lagos to Calabar.
* ROAD: 25 major highways being funded with the N100b Sukuk Bond, and all geo political zones are benefitting equally
This Administration is not unaware of the enormity of the challenges facing the nation, but we are up to the task. We have taken the bull by the horns, and long suffering Nigerians will begin to experience a new lease of life as our efforts yield fruits. We will not go into a state of funk for whatever reason.
On the Herders/Farmers’ clashes, this Administration is determined to end the crisis resulting from this once and for all, not minding the fact that the clashes predate us. we urge Nigerians to have faith in the Administration’s ability to resolve the crisis, and to watch out for concrete measures in this regard.
On whether or not President Muhammadu Buhari should run for another term, it is true that many Nigerians have been calling on the President to run again, while others are opposed to his return.
However, we believe this issue is a distraction for the President at this time. This is because Mr. President spends every waking hour tackling the enormous challenges facing the nation, most of which were bequeathed to his Administration by successive past Administrations.
He is committed to fulfilling the mandate given to him by Nigerians in 2015. And that’s where we are right now!
Finally, we have no reason to believe that former President Obasanjo has any motive beyond the well-being of the nation in issuing his Special Press Statement. We have also taken his admonition in good faith, and we thank him most sincerely for taking time off his busy schedule to pen such a long statement.
