President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerian citizens of the adequate protection of their lives and property wherever they reside in the country. He made the pledge in a New Year radio and television broadcast to the nation. The Nigeria leader said security remains top on the agenda of the present administration and acts of terror would be contained.
He said: “I must reassure my fellow citizens that security of life and property is still top of our government’s agenda. We have since beaten Boko Haram. Isolated attacks still occur, but even the best-policed countries cannot prevent determined criminals from committing terrible acts of terror as we have seen during the past years in Europe, Asia, Middle East, elsewhere in Africa and in America.
Our government remains determined to protect all Nigerians in line with our election pledge and promises. Terrorism and urban crimes are world-wide phenomena and our security forces are continuously adapting their responses to changing threats.”
President Buhari thanked the country’s Armed Forces and other security agencies, on behalf of all citizens of the country, for carrying out their responsibilities diligently.
“On behalf of all Nigerians let me offer our thanks to the Armed forces, the Police, other para-military forces and traditional authorities who are working round the clock to ensure that you and I go about our normal business in reasonable safety,” he said.
Similarly, the commander in Chief of the armed Forces warned kidnappers of the consequences of their nefarious acts, stating that tougher measures are being taken to bring their activities to an end.
“With regard to rampant cases of kidnappings, we are taking immediate short-term measures to combat this new evil creeping into our societies. Tighter police methods and swift and severe punishment for those proved to be engaged in kidnapping are on the way,” the President warned.
He thanked the Governors and community leaders of the Niger-Delta region for contributing a lot towards the restoration of peace to the area.
“With respect to Niger Delta, Government is still engaging responsible leadership of the Communities to help in identifying and addressing genuine grievances of the region. Our clean-up programme in collaboration with the United Nations is making satisfactory progress. I am grateful to all the Governors and other Political & Community leaders of the Niger Delta States for their part in bringing relative peace to the areas,” he said.
On the political scene, ahead of the 2019 general elections, he admonished politicians to desist from using ethnicity and religion to achieve their selfish goals, as he called on other sections of the country to take a cue from the people of the South-West.
“As the electioneering season approaches politicians must avoid exploiting ethnicity and religion by linking ethnicity with religion and religion with politics. Such must be avoided at all costs if we are to live in harmony. In this respect the rest of Nigeria could learn from the South Western States who have successfully internalized religion, ethnicity and politics.
Political discourse should be conducted with civility, decorum and in a constitutional manner. We all have a collective responsibility to strengthen our democracy and entrench the rule of law. We should draw encouragement from the series of bye-elections conducted by INEC last year which were generally violence free and their outcomes adjudged to be free and fair,” President Buhari stated.
The President, who apologised to citizens for the difficulties experienced due to scarcity of petrol, caused by some selfish marketers of the essential product, thanked them for praying for him while on medical vacation and wished Nigerians a prosperous 2018.
