Osinbajo releases new focus for Democracy Day

Nigeria has listed new areas of focus in the next two years, including agriculture and food security.

Other areas are Energy, (power and Petroleum) Industrialization and Transport infrastructure.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said on Monday in his address to mark this year’s democracy day that government would work and give the necessary incentives to the private sector and create an environment to invest and do business.

The vision for a country, he said, is to grow “what it eats and produces what it consumes’’.

“It is for a country that no longer has to import petroleum products, and develops a lucrative petrochemical industry.

“Very importantly it is for a country whose fortunes are no longer tied to the price of a barrel of crude, but instead to the boundless talent and energy of its people, young and old, male and female as they invest in diverse areas of the economy,’’ he said.

The vision was to create a country where the wealth of the many would no longer be stolen by or reserved for a few.

The government would build a nation devoid of impunity of corruption whether in the public or private sectors.

Corruption would no longer be standard operating practice and also build a nation where bandits and terrorists would be eliminated. “As citizens you all deserve a country that works, not merely for the rich or connected, but for everyone. “And our promise to you is that we will, with your support and cooperation, take every step needed to create that country of our dreams. “We also know that this journey will of necessity take time. But we will not succumb to the temptation to take short-cuts that ultimately complicate the journey. We did not find ourselves in crises overnight, and we simply do not expect overnight solutions to our challenges.’’

The most important thing, he said, was to be on the right path, “and we will not deviate from it, even in the face of strong temptation to choose temporary gain over long-term benefit’’.

As the President has summed it up, he said: “The old Nigeria is slowly but surely disappearing, and a new era is rising.” “And so we commemorate this second anniversary of our administration with confidence and optimism. I firmly believe that we have put the most difficult phase behind u.’’ “We are witnesses to the ever-increasing intensity of the light at the end of the tunnel.’’

He asked for the continued cooperation and support of the people, to enable the government to realise all its intentions and ambitions for Nigeria. “On our part We will continue to carry you along on this journey, speak to you, explain the challenges, and share our Vision.’’