Today, October 1 is Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebration and this year’s commemoration is a unique one.
It is coming at a time where many Nigeria’s are feeling the heat of the government’s reforms, with the cost of living rising beyond the reach of most workers.
Also, some are quick to wonder what the gains of the exit from colonial rule all these years are.
Again, the Independence Day speech, President Bola Tinubu highlighted what his government is doing to improve the nation’s economy, cut down cost of food items and lower poverty line.
Also, it captures his administration’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youths and creating a viable future for all.
Below is the full Independence Day Speech by President Bola Tinubu.
Your Voices Are Heard
Fellow Nigerians as I address you today, I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times.
Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising costs and the search for meaningful employment.
I want to assure you that your voices are heard.
As your president, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the sufferings of our citizens.
Once again, I plead for your patience, as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Realising The Dreams
Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that will lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment; a beckon of hope for the rest of Africa and the world.
Over six decades later we can look back and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded and realising the lofty dream of our founding fathers.
The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of Nigerian people our massive intellectual capacity and our enterprise and industry in all vocations.
From art to science technology to infrastructure, the dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still work in progress,
Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.
Why it is tempting to focus on what has been left undone and where we have stumbled as a nation, we must never lose sight of how far we have come in forging and holding our country together.
Since independence, our nation has survived many crises and upheavals that led to the dissolution and disintegration of many other nations worldwide.
Six years after independence our country descended into a political crisis that led to a bitter and avoidable Civil War.
A Strong Untied And Viable Nation
Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union.
Despite the many challenges that buffeted our country we remain a strong united and viable sovereign nation.
Dear compatriots our independence anniversary gives us another chance to reflect on how far we have gone in our journey to nation building and to renew our commitment to building a better nation that will serve present and future generations of Nigerians.
While we celebrate the progress we have made as people in the last 64 years, we must also recognise some of our missed opportunities and mistake of the past if we are to become one of the greatest Nations on Earth as God has destined us to be.
Our mistakes must not follow us into the future.
My Administration took over leadership of our country 16 months ago at a critical juncture.
The economy faced many head winds and our physical security highly impaired. We found ourselves at a decent crossroad where we must choose between two paths reform for progress and prosperity or carry on the business as usual and collapse.
Winning The War On Terror
We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture on the security front.
I am happy to announce to you my compatriots that our administration is winning the war on terror and bandit our target is to eliminate all threats of Boko Haram banditry kidnapping for ransom and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism.
Within one year, our government has eliminated many Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever.
As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by Gallant troops in the northeast, northwest and some other parts of the country.
A Leap In Food production
We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the north and thousands of our people have been able to return home.
It is an unfinished business, I agree, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible.
As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled part of the north, our farmers can return to their farms.
We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs.
I promise you; we shall not falter on this.
Responding To Natural Disasters
Our government has been responding to the recent natural disasters, particularly the flooding in parts of the country.
After Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited to assure our people that this federal government will always stand with our people in their times of trouble.
At the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, we approved a disaster relief fund to mobilise private and public sector funds to help us respond faster to emergencies.
Our government has also ordered integrity test of our damps in the country to avoid future disasters.
The economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and retraining to serve us better and more sustainably.
If we do not correct the physical misalignment that led to the current economic downturn, our country will face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences.
Reform Attracting Investment
Thanks to the reform; our country attracted foreign-direct investment worth more than $30 billion in the last year.
Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprises, free entry and free exit in investment while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes.
This principle guides the divestment transaction in our upstream sector while we are committed to changing the fortune positively.
As such, ExxonMobile Seplat divestment will receive ministry approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestment approved in the sector.
The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production positively, impacting our economy.
Foreign Exchange Market
The more disciplined approach adopted by the Central Bank to monetary policy management has ensured stability and predictability in our Foreign Exchange market.
We inherited a reserve of over $33 billion 16 months ago.
Since then, we have paid back the inherited Forex backlog of $7 billion we have cleared a Ways and Means depth of over 30 trillion Naira, we have reduced the debt service ratio from 97% to 68%.
Despite all this, we have managed to keep our foreign Reserve at $37 billion.
We continue to meet all our obligations and pay our bills.
We are moving ahead with our fiscal policy revamps.
It will stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity.
The Federal Executive Council approved the economic stabilisation bill which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly.
Lowering High Cost Of Living
This transformative bill will make our business environment more friendly stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden of businesses and workers when they are passed into law.
As part of our efforts to reengineer our political economy, we are resolutely in our determination to implement the supreme court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments.
The central concern of our people today is the High Cost of Living especially food costs.
This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide.
My fellow Nigerians, please, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce the cost of living here at home I commend the governors particularly in Kebbi, Niger Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa and other Southwest Governors that have embraced our agricultural production programme.
I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised Farming.
Boosting Food Production
We are playing our part by supplying fertiliser and making tractors and other farm equipment available.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of a local assembly plant for 2,000 tractors, combined Harvesters, disk Riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipments the plan as a completion time of 6 months.
Our energy transition programme is on course.
We are expanding the adoption of the presidential initiative from compress natural gas for Mass Transit with private sector players.
The Federal Government is ready to assist the 36 States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.
Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to Foster National unity and build social harmony and cohesion.
Our economy can only thrive when there is peace.
As we walk to overcome the challenges of the day, we remain mindful of next generation as we seek to galvanise their creative energy towards a better future.
A National Youth Conference
We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognising that we cannot discern a future that belongs to them without making them its architects.
Considering this, I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference.
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This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people who constitute more than 60% of our population.
It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation building by ensuring that their voices are hard and shaping the policies that impact their lives.
We are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.
The 30-day confab will unite young people Nationwide to collaboratively develop solution to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security and social justice.
The modality of this confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives.
Through this confab, we will do our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations.
The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum, as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive prosperous and united Nigeria.
Other Youth-centric Programmes
Our government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes, good to give our young people an advantage in rapid changing world.
We are implementing among others the three million technical programme of the ministry of communication Innovation and Digital Economy aimed at building Nigerian technical talent backbone.
We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian education loan fund which provides cheap loans to our student to pursue their tertiary education and dreams.
In addition, later this month, we shall launch the Renewed Hope Labour employment and empowerment.
It is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions and job creation by federal ministry of labour and employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs directly and indirectly on an annual incremental basis while simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers across the country.
National Honours
As is the tradition, the government will soon announce all the beneficiaries of our national honours for 2024.
The Senate President and the Chief Justice of the Federation have been conferred with the honour of the grand commander of the order of the Niger GCON.
The Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, CFR, while the Deputy Speaker of the house has been awarded commander of the order of Niger, CON.
Towards A Brighter Future
Fellow Nigerians, better days are ahead of us.
The challenge of the moment must always make us believe in ourselves.
We are Nigerians, resilient and tenacious.
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We always prevail and rise above our circumstances.
I urge you to believe in our nation’s promise.
The road ahead may be challenging but we will forge a path towards a brighter future with your support.
Together we will cultivate a Nigeria that reflects the aspiration of all its citizens. A nation that resonates with pride dignity and shared success.
As agent of change we can shape our destiny and build a brighter future, by ourselves for ourselves and future generations.
Please join us and join our administration in this journey towards a brighter future.
Let us work together to build a greater Nigeria where every citizen can access opportunities, and every child can grow up with hope and promise.
May God continue to bless our nation and keep members of our Armed Forces safe.
Happy Independence anniversary, fellow Nigerians.
