Ending the scourge of terrorism remains the topmost priority of the federal government, President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday.
Speaking at the opening of the Honorary International Investors Council (HIIC) in Abuja, Jonathan assured Nigerians and foreigners that guaranteeing safety of lives and property in the country remains top on the priority list of government.
The president, who was represented by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo said security agencies were confronting terrorism and any insurgency that seeks to undermine the security of the nation.
government would “remain unyielding and will continue to reinforce our defences so as to rid the country of terrorism and the forces of evil that threatens our peace and development.”
He said: “Within the last two months, we have played hosts to several business delegations from all over the world including a Chinese delegation of 100 businessmen, 75 Kenyan businessmen, 18 Swiss investors and second largest business enterprise in China, a Fortune 500 company, which pledged to invest in our transmission and Power generating sector. The visit by the US Commerce Secretary, accompanied by a powerful delegation, the delegation from Pakistan and the team from Netherlands are also worthy of note.”
He said the country’s determination to ensure that it becomes one of the world’s 20 most industrialised nations was growing stronger by the day.
“Let me reaffirm that our efforts under the transformation agenda are yielding impressive results. Today, Nigeria is one of the strongest economic performers in Africa. For the second year, the United Nation’s Conference on Trade and Development, has declared Nigeria as the number one recipient of foreign direct investment, FDI in Africa.”
Also speaking, Coordinator of HIIC, Baroness Lynda Chalker, said the meeting was focusing on education because “children who go to primary schools do not complete their education that tells us a lot about the problems of the country. That is why we want to focus on education.”
She said: “We do not have a separate session on power supply but we do know that Nigeria’s progress again depend on the gas reforms, the management of the transmission company of Nigeria, fuel supply to power plants, speedy implementation of renewable energy and progress plan for developing domestic gas utilisation. Power and education are at the heart of what must be achieved.”
