President Muhammadu Buhari’s New Year Address To Nigerians

ON JANUARY 1, 2022, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI MADE A STATEMENT TO THE NATION.

We are grateful to the Almighty God for another year as a country, united by a common destiny and firm in our commitment to face the numerous challenges that lie ahead on our journey to become the great and successful nation of our dreams.

I commend all Nigerians for their courage and fortitude, which was evident in 2021 as this country, like others around the world, faced significant challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to restore global economic and social order.

While persistent insecurity in some parts of the country has threatened to undo the administration’s incremental gains in the real economy and the administration’s overall goal of putting the country on an irreversible path of sustainable growth and progress, I assure you that we will remain steadfast in our commitments and will continue to implement our programs and plans.

The road to nationhood is often paved with unforeseeable difficulties and challenges, and the most tried and tested nations have often triumphed through tenacity, resilience, a concerted commitment to unity, and the belief that the whole nation, standing together against all odds, is far greater and, in the end, more prosperous and viable than the sum of its distinguishable parts.

There is no doubt that the issue of security remains at the top of the priority list for this administration. As part of our vow to re-energize and reform the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and police, our Administration has invested extensively in re-equipping our military in order to upgrade the platforms and firepower required to address the country’s current challenges.

The number of insurgents and bandits who have willingly surrendered to our Security Forces has increased as a result of these efforts, and they are continuing to do so through various channels, including the Safe Corridor established for that purpose.

The government, on the other hand, recognizes that battlefield victory is only one facet of long-term victory. We understand that in order to properly win this war, we must also win the peace, and that true security lies in winning the hearts and minds of the people who will be affected. To that end, we will implement multi-faceted solutions in collaboration with our international partners and neighboring nations, aimed at tackling human security at the grassroots level, before it becomes a source of insecurity.

I’d like to take a moment to remember and honor the brave Military, Police Officers, and other security agents who have given their lives in the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of this country from both internal and external aggressors, assuring their families that their sacrifices were not in vain.

We also remember and express our condolences to Nigerians who have lost loved ones as a result of insecurity in various parts of the country. Every life is precious, and every death caused by any sort of insecurity is a source of personal worry for me, both as a citizen and as the President of our great nation.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold the constitutional provisions that protect all Nigerians from both internal and external aggression.

In terms of the economy, despite the turbulence that has characterized our economy, and indeed the global economy, we have shown a high level of resilience in achieving some significant achievements. COVID-19 has taught us a lot, and we’re still learning, therefore we’re stepping up our attempts to offset its socioeconomic consequences on our country.

Nigeria’s latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics clearly show the major victories we have achieved (NBS). The 4.03 percent growth rate in the third quarter of 2021 reflects our economy’s recovery and the confidence that our Administration has demonstrated through policies implemented following the pandemic’s onset.

It’s also worth noting that this recent growth is closely followed by Nigeria’s real-terms growth of 5.1 percent in the second quarter of 2021. This was one of the best periods of growth in Sub-Saharan Africa for any country. The 5.1 percent growth rate at the time was, and continues to be, the strongest the Nigerian economy has experienced since 2014.

Despite the challenges we’ve faced as a country, the good news is that we’ve now had four consecutive quarters of growth following negative growth rates in Quarters 2 and 3 of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I signed the Petroleum Industry Act into law on August 16, 2021. Given the huge positive impact the new Act would have on the economy, the signing of this legacy law is a watershed moment in the history of our nation. I’d want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the 9th Assembly for their tenacity in succeeding where others had failed and for their collaboration in bringing this process to a close nearly two decades later.

As I stated during my recent investment trips and fora, the legislation is expected to serve as a liberalizing force in the energy industry, and we are hopeful that it will provide the much-needed legal, governance, regulatory, and fiscal framework for the development of the energy sector, host communities, and Nigeria as a whole. Our goal of increasing Liquefied Natural Gas exports while also expanding our domestic market remains at the center of some of the measures we will pursue in the coming year.

Beginning in 2022 and continuing forward, our Administration will purposefully use ICT platforms to create jobs, while ensuring that our economy’s diversification provides more support for other emerging sectors. I’m pleased to report that some international investors are taking advantage of our status as one of the top start-up ecosystems in the world.

We have made fighting corruption and other related offenses a top priority, as they have hampered our dear Nation’s growth and prosperity. Through the innovative use of technology and forensics in investigative and prosecutorial procedures, we have made significant steps and breakthroughs, with impressive results, demonstrating that our Administration’s anti-corruption push is working.

In the meantime, the achievements so far can be attributed to the dedication of the nation’s anti-corruption agencies, which have received the necessary support to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Despite our challenges in 2021, the Administration was able to successfully complete key projects, programs, and initiatives in order to fulfill the promises made under the Security, Economy, and Anti-corruption (SEA) agenda.

As we look forward to 2022, let us hope that it will be another year of progress in addressing our combined security and socioeconomic challenges.

It has been said that the past is only a story told, but the future will be written in gold. Let us be united in our battle to keep our country together in the face of adversity, and let us celebrate life in this new era with thankfulness.