₦airaland Forum

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the country’s challenges, emphasising that these obstacles are surmountable.

Speaking in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State over the weekend during the commissioning of the Soybean Plant and Refinery of the CSS Group and the birthday celebration of Prof. John Kennedy Opara, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Jonathan weighed in on the importance of collective effort in nation-building.


The event was attended by dignitaries including former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma; Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri; former Cross River State Governor Prof. Ben Ayade; former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onnoghen; and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by his deputy.



Jonathan cautioned against the increasing trend of migration, popularly referred to as “Japa,” urging Nigerians to contribute to the development of their homeland.

“You don’t need to Japa. Those countries you are running to were built by people. We must build this country together, and invest in it so that the youths can get jobs. We must not run away from our responsibilities. This country belongs to all of us, and we must not abandon it,” he said as quoted by DAILY TRUST.

Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri echoed Jonathan’s sentiments, stating, “There is hope in Nigeria. So those who want to Japa, please, don’t Japa. Nigeria is a blessed country. If we all key into what the private sector is doing, no one will Japa.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), addressed the nation’s food security issues, calling for urgent action to tackle hunger caused by high food price inflation. “The level of hunger in Nigeria is too high due to very high food price inflation,” he said, emphasizing the need for accelerated efforts to expand food production, lower food costs, reduce import dependency, and support local farmers.


Adesina recounted, “There is no doubt that Nigerian farmers can feed Nigeria. They did when I was Minister of Agriculture under President Jonathan. The price of rice at the time was N8,000 per bag; today it is over N100,000 per bag.”

He called for bold programmes and policy support for farmers and agribusinesses to develop agricultural value chains.

He also revealed that the African Development Bank, in partnership with the federal government and other stakeholders, is implementing a $538 million programme to develop special agro-industrial processing zones in eight states: Cross River, Imo, Oyo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, and the FCT.


He added, “The second phase of the special agro-industrial processing zones will cover all remaining 28 states in Nigeria. The SAPZ-Phase II is planned with a financing target of $1 billion, from the African Development Bank, the Arab Bank for African Economic Development, and the private sector.”


Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma expressed optimism about Nigeria’s role in Africa’s progress, stating, “If positive things happen in Nigeria, we are happy because Africa can only get it right when Nigeria gets it right.”

Vanguard News




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/01/dont-japa-countries-youre-running-to-were-built-by-people-jonathan-to-nigerians/

Those countries don't stifle productive minds while elevating crooked but secret group loyal ones. Imagine having to submit your VAT to a state that prevent the consumption of what you produce or that treats you as an inferior citizen based on religious grounds. If you are hot and competent on a global level, disregard this politically correct talk and Japa if you have to. At least your remittances will impact your people & community far more than your natural resources or land that has been plundered by a strange people with a dangerously cataclysmic sense of religious superiority.

gej the problem is that some group of idiots don't want this country to develop.because the empty skulls that was lamenting that buying fuel at #165 is costly only to assume office and the same fuel is sold at #1000 and above.any agbero that want to escape T-pain should be denied visa

Dear Daddy Jonathan, with all due respect your Excellency Sir, It is wrong of you to tell us not to japa. I mean very wrong. To be honest with you Sir, Nigeria is far from getting better. Destinies are being wasted here, corruption is having a field day, corruption is endemic and innate, the nepotistic nature of our political elites have all divided us. We are more disunited now than ever, and there can be no meaningful development or growth without unity and unison.
Nigeria is one of the most misgoverned country on Earth. There's seemingly no hope or redemption of a better Nigeria

Tell that to your politician friends and their families


Jonathan always talking like someone possessed with kaikai spirit

To start with, where are your children

A

After looting nigeria beyond expectations, GEJ should thank God I was not there while he was speaking all this rubbish

Toh

The dirty jobs that some Nigerians in Nigeria will say never I can never do that, when they get to abroad, they do worst than those jobs they are rejecting in Nigeria

yarimo:
After looting nigeria beyond expectations, GEJ should thank God I was not there while he was speaking all this rubbish

the gathering was not for agberos na.chairman agbero union nairaland branch

Good but EFCC doesn't break into people's homes sporadically in other countries at night.

Same countries y'all go to hide our looted funds?

On a different note, I can still recall when Jonathan said Nigerians will miss him for not reelecting him. Back then I thought it was a joke, but it has turned into reality.

The annoying thing about these people is that most of their family members are based abroad.




Nonsense!

My man GEJ, abeg leave that talk, na who stay alive de build country, besides, Nigeria under the current criminals at Aso Rock does not have any chance until power changes hand.


For now, let the youths Japa en masse to secure their future first, they can return back to invest when human beings get to Aso Rock