Vice President Namadi Sambo has said, notwithstanding the attacks by terrorist sect Boko Haram, the concerted efforts by security agencies were yielding positive results.
Sambo who said the government was particularly proud of the security agencies commitment to ending insurgency in the country, assured that federal government was not resting as it was doing everything possible including cooperating with neighbouring countries to check Boko Haram activities with the aim of putting a stop to it.
The Vice President gave the assurance during an interactive audience with the Nigerian Community in Tanzania, at the residence of Nigeria’s High Commissioner, Dr. Ishaya Samaila Majambu.
Sambo represented President Goodluck Jonathan at the golden jubilee celebration of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar on April 26th, 1964.
He said “I want to cease this opportunity to inform that federal government is doing everything to ensure that Boko Haram menace is addressed in Nigeria and we are getting positive results. I must say that we are very proud of our security agencies. They have been doing very well and this issue by God’s grace will be a thing of the past soon.
“I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to end this, we are co-operating with our neighbouring countries to bring this to an end soon”.
Sambo commended the good reports on Nigerians living in Tanzania and urged them to re-dedicate themselves in the true Nigeria spirit to contribute immensely to the growth of the economy of their host country, adding that “In doing so, you are in many ways also contributing to the development of your fatherland”.
He said, “Our determined industrious and enterprising nature is recognised all over the world. We must put to bear this God-given quality in the pursuit of our daily lives. I am therefore happy to note that we have not had any negative report concerning Nigerians in Tanzania. We cannot but remind ourselves that with good image comes a sacrifice”.
The Vice President also told the audience of the successes of the transformation agenda of the administration by engaging on people oriented projects in critical areas like agriculture, power, education, roads, rails, aviation among others.
He added that Nigeria’s rebasing of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), from 1990 to 2010, resulting in the increase by 40 to 70 per cent of the GDP which was initially put at $262.6 billion by World Bank to $510 billion as of today.
“This favourable economic indicator confirms Nigeria as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. This is a clear testimony of the product management of government’s scare resources and sound socio-economic policies. This growth is amplified in the agriculture sector, whis is leading the pace in Africa today, in wholesale and retail trade, entertainment, in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as in the Oil and Gas sectors of our economy”, he said.
He highlighted the successes recorded in the agriculture sector which will soon see the end of the importation of rice, the roads rehabilitation across the country which has led to improved travel time, the revival of the trail transport to move passengers and goods across the country, the improved inland waterways transport aimed at opening the northern part of the country for more commercial activities, leading to increase of movement of cargo from 2.9 million metric tons in 2011 to over 5 million metric tons in 2013. He said aside the remodeling of some of the countries airport , the administration was also focusing on terminals, safety facilities, infrastructure, towers, runway and fencing.
On Nigerians in diapora being able to vote, the Vice President said, “we have commissioned National Identification Management Commission, NIMC a government organisation that is handling the national identification cards, it will be like a social number cards. Until every Nigerian is registered and known, only then will the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) be able to allow Nigerians in diapora to vote. But for now if we don’t have your record in the country, that means anybody can vote and claim to be a Nigerian. So something is being done and soon Nigerians abroad will be able to vote”.
On Nigerians being duped by those who claim to be football agents, the Vice President urged them to in future do due diligence on such persons by cross checking with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) back home, before dealing with them so has not to become easy prey to fraudsters.
On the concerns about the constant clashes between Fulani cattle grazers and farmers, Sambo said, federal government was addressing the situation in a way that will put a stop to the clashes as well as bring economic benefits to all stakeholders.
He said, “the population in the north in the early 60s was 19 million people but today the population explosion is so high and the areas of grazing our animals are shrinking with some of the grazers coming outside the country. But we have taken the decision to establish grazing reserves which will grow into ranches. The ranches will also have different businesses. We want to in fact fully participated in the Halal meat business, which is over $1 trillion today and Nigeria is not benefiting. We want to be transporting our beef in refrigerated trucks or trains after being killed in a standard abattoirs. The ranches will be complete with good roads and transport system. So something is being done about that”.
On the issue of recycling of waste and eliminating the use of nylon bags and plastics and using bottles or aluminum instead, he said, Nigeria was already acting on the need to embrace eco friendly system and as chairman of environmental green world project, he said, we are meeting with governors and LGA chairmen, to engage the youths to keep our environment friendly.
He welcomed the suggestion that government should form a think tank of Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers with a view to sharing experiences with seasoned technocrats in an attempt to contribute technically and meaningfully to addressing some of our enormous challenges home and abroad.
Earlier, the Nigeria High Commissioner to Tanzania, Dr. ishaya Majambu, commended the President, represented by the Vice President coming to his residence, saying no dignitary of that calibre has visited the residence since it was commissioned. He said the Nigeria-Tanzania relations have been cordial since it was established in 1962 except a little break during the Nigerian civil War.
He told the audience that Nigerians in the country are well-behaved and always have their meetings monthly in the Commission House and those who do not attend meetings are considered to be engaging in criminal activities. He Said Nigerians have contributed to the economy of Tanzania, noting that Dangote cement is being sold everywhere in the country. Tony Elumelu Farms and UBA have established their presence in the country, he said.
