Militants Will Not Hold Nigeria to Ransom – Osinbajo

Wed, Feb 22, 2017 | By publisher


BREAKING NEWS, Politics

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ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday, February 21, vowed that militants in the Niger Delta would not be allowed to hold Nigeria to ransom.

Besides, Osinbajo said the dwindling oil prices and disruption in supply occasioned by the insecurity in the Niger Delta region had made Nigerians to realise the urgent need to diversify the nation’s economy.

Speaking at the 16th National Productivity Day and conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award on 15 individuals and five organisations in Abuja, he said though, delivery might be a bit slow, but the promised change would come in no distant time.

“Boko Haram has been defeated and is only resorting to cowardly attacks on soft targets, killing innocent men, women and children. Despite this, the residents of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, including several neighbouring states are now going about their daily business in relative safety.

“Besides Boko Haram, a new insurgency has risen in the form of blowing up gas and oil pipelines by groups of Niger Delta militants. This administration will not allow them to hold the country to ransom. While security is being beefed up in the area, we shall intensify our ongoing dialogue with the various stakeholders in the region,” he said.

He said the government was aware of the onerous task ahead, especially in pulling the country out of the recession, he deduced that with more productivity, the nation would, once again, be on the path of sustainable growth and development that would guarantee the people a higher and improved standard of living.

According to him, without visible level of productivity in any nation, employment generation and wealth creation could not be guaranteed.

Osinbajo said that government would facilitate the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises, MSMEs, by putting in place friendly policies to motivate entrepreneurs because of its ability to grow the economy and provide jobs.

In addition, he said economic stabilisation measures, including import restriction will be sustained to increase dependency on local manufacturing enterprises.

This year’s theme: “Productivity for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Employment,” Osinbajo, said was timely and apt assuring that government would ensure actualisation of the social security programmes.

Chris Ngige, minister of Labour and Employment, said the award was organised to celebrate and reward excellence in service.

Ngige said it was meant to recognise individuals and organisations that had made significant contributions to the growth and development of the nation.

—  Feb 22, 2017 @ 14:40 GMT

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