By Olusegun Olanrewaju, Lagos and Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday said his administration eliminated more than 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders within just one year in office.
The President made the declaration while delivering his 64th Independence Day speech.
He said his administration is winning the war against terrorism.
He said, “On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry.
“Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever.
“As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.
“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, 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 parts 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.”
Tinubu’s reassurance that the federal government was winning the war against insecurity follows reports of rising insecurity in the country.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence, Tinubu acknowledged progress and setbacks.
“While 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,” he remarked.
The President also urged citizens to reflect on the nation’s progress while acknowledging the remaining challenges.
Tinubu celebrated Nigeria’s resilience, highlighting how far the country has come since gaining independence in 1960.
“Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy and launched the dream of a great country,” Tinubu said, recalling the vision of a Nigeria that would lead Africa out of poverty and underdevelopment.
He pointed to the nation’s success in many areas, such as science, technology, and infrastructure, while acknowledging that realising those dreams remains an ongoing effort.
The President urged Nigerians not to focus solely on past missteps, reminding them of the significant progress made in keeping the country united despite numerous crises, including the civil war that nearly tore the nation apart just six years after independence.
“Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity,” Tinubu said, emphasising that Nigeria remains solid and sovereign despite challenges.
He also called for renewed commitment from all citizens to continue the work of nation-building, acknowledging that while much has been achieved, lessons from the past must be learned to ensure a brighter future for generations to come.
Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s past mistakes should not hinder its path forward as the nation strives to fulfil its destiny as one of the greatest on earth.
The President called on citizens to remain steadfast in their belief in the country’s potential.
He announced the upcoming release of the 2024 national honours recipients list, a tradition acknowledging individuals’ contributions to the nation’s progress.
Among the honourees, the Senate President and Chief Justice of the Federation will be conferred with the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
The Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives are to receive the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
At the same time, the Deputy Speaker of the House will be awarded the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
The President expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, urging citizens to remain resilient despite present challenges.
“Fellow Nigerians, better days are ahead of us,” he said, harping on the nation’s tenacity. “We are Nigerians–resilient and tenacious. We always prevail and rise above our circumstances.”
He urged Nigerians to maintain faith in the country’s promise, acknowledging that while the road ahead may be difficult, unity and perseverance would help the nation achieve its goals.
“Together, we will cultivate a Nigeria that reflects the aspirations of all its citizens, a nation that resonates with pride, dignity, and shared success,” Tinubu declared.
He stressed that every Nigerian has a role as an agent of change, working to secure a future filled with hope and promise.
“As agents of change, we can shape our destiny and build a brighter future by ourselves, for ourselves and future generations,” Tinubu stated.
He concluded with a plea for unity, urging Nigerians to join the administration in its quest for a greater Nigeria where every citizen can thrive and every child can grow up with hope.
*64th anniversary celebration
The celebration was climaxed with a military parade held at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amidst funfair.
The forecourt was characterised by a heavy deployment of plain-cloth security operatives, men of the Nigerian Police under the eagle eyes of officers and soldiers of the elite Brigade of Guards.
President Tinubu was received on arrival at 10am by pipers who ushered him into the arena after an inspection of the Quarter guard mounted by troops of the Guards brigade.
The President then proceeded to climb the saluting dias, where he took the national salute as Special Guest of Honour to signify the commencement of the event proper.
On the 64th anniversary, a presidential change of guards was witnessed. This paved the way for a Nigerian Armed Forces Colour patrol and displayed to symbolize Nigeria’s national and military pride.
The segment was followed by a Guards brigade Silent drill platoon, which awed guests and other spectators, including cabinet ministers, presidential aides, and members of the diplomatic corps, who had thronged the venue to witness the festivities.
Guests at the venue were also treated to various unique performances by a combined mass band and displays by a cultural troupe drawn from the six geopolitical zones to depict the country’s diversity.
The ceremony’s climax was the signing of the anniversary register by President Tinubu.
The President, joined by Vice President Shettima, the leadership of the National Assembly, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser (NSA), and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), cut the anniversary cake and thereafter released pigeons to symbolise peace in the country.
*Rising food prices, living costs to be arrested
In his independence speech, the President vowed his administration’s desire to halt the twin problems as a way forward in solving the intractable food crisis and the high cost of living in the land.
He said, “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, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce living costs here at home.”
Tinubu commended the governors, particularly in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and their South-West counterparts, who according to him, have embraced the agricultural production program and urged other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanized farming.
According to him, the government has been playing its part by supplying fertiliser and making tractors and other farm equipment available.
Last week, the President announced that the FEC had approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2,000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs, and other farm equipment.
According to him, the plant has a completion time of six months.
He said, “Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players.
“The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six states and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.
*Convocation of 30-day national youth confab
To involve everybody, especially the youths, in retooling the nation for development, Tinubu said his administration was also eyeing the convocation of a 30-day national youth confab.
His proposal: “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 work to overcome the day’s challenges, we remain mindful of the next generation as we seek to galvanise their creative energy towards a better future.
“We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognising that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects.
In a bid to engage the youth, who constitute over 60 per cent of the nation’s population, Tinubu announced plans for a National Youth Conference.
He said the conference would be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting young people.
He further disclosed that the 30-day confab “will bring together young people from across the nation to develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, and social justice.”
In his further words, “The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice.
“The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives.
“Through this Confab, it will be 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.
“Our government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give our young people an advantage in the rapidly changing world.
“We are implementing, amongst others, the three million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.
“We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams.
“We shall also launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) later this month. It is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions for job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. It will facilitate 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.
