₦airaland Forum

Today, standing on the Abuja’s Eagle
Square, His Excellency, President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, has officially
declared his intent to run for the 2015
presidential elections on the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Word cloud” shows prominent words that
frequently appeared in President Jonathan’s
November 11th address to the nation
Adressing his compatriots, the President
remembered how, four years prior on
September 18, 2010, he made a similar bid at
contesting in the 2011 presidential elections on
the same PDP platform. He thanked Nigerians
for the trust and support. He also expressed
gratitude to the leaders, elders and various
organs of the PDP “for the opportunity … to
serve our country, Nigeria.”
“After seeking the face of God, in quiet
reflection with my family and having listened
to the call of our people nationwide to run, I,
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have
accepted to re-present myself, on the
platform of The Peoples Democratic Party,
for re-election as the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the 2015
general elections,” the President declared.
Below are the points of the speech where
President Jonathan accounts for his
administrations’s success during their three-
and-a-half year tenure:
President Jonathan on war on terrorism
We are equipping the armed forces and
deploying special forces to engage the
terrorists and end this senseless war. We must
protect our country. We must save our people. I
will do everything humanly possible to end this
criminal violence in our Nation.
To ensure the long-term stability and
development of the affected areas, government
has launched three programmes: the
Presidential Initiative for the Northeast
(focused on improving infrastructure and
economic growth in the region), the Victim
Support Fund (a partnership with the Private
Sector, has raised about 60 billion Naira to
help empower and rehabilitate victims of
terror) and the Safe School Initiative (centred
on creating a safe environment to encourage our
children in the communities to acquire
education. ). I promise the victims of these
dastardly acts that we will continue to stand
with you.
President Jonathan on development in
infrastructure
Infrastructure has been a major focus area of
my administration, and so, we pursued the
power sector reform to this point of
irreversible progress. Nigeria has undertaken a
most transparent and corruption-free bidding
process, attracting global commendation. The
on-going 450MW Azura Power Plant in Edo
State is a testimony to the success of this
transformation.
We have also resumed development of our
Hydro-Power potential, with the construction of
the 700MW Zungeru Hydro-Power Plant, while
construction work on the 3,050MW Mambilla
Hydro-Power Plant is about to take off.
Our power generation and distribution
companies have now been privatized. We are
firmly on the road to guaranteed regular power
supply in the months ahead. This bold move is
paying off!
President Jonathan on environmental protection
We are committed to environmental protection
and conservation and reducing vulnerability to
climate change. In this regard, we have
embarked on a number of projects across the
country. Of particular note is the African Great
Green Wall Programme, where we have released
about 16 billion naira for implementation. The
project will create a green belt across 11 states
from Kebbi to Borno.
President Jonathan on the water sector
In the past three and half years, the water
sector has witnessed unprecedented
improvement. Access to potable water is now
67%, up from 58% in 2010, while sanitation
coverage is 41%, from 32% within the same
period.
Major developments in water include the
completion of 37 Dams and rehabilitation of 10,
with several others on-going construction. The
flagship Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam which is
being built to contain flood from Lake Nyos, is
now at 90% completion. We have also completed
about 5,000 rural and semi urban water
schemes.
We are reforming the National Urban Water
supply programmes in 12 states, with 385
formal and informal irrigation projects,
covering a total land area of 118000 ha,
cultivated mostly by small holder farmers. This
has yielded over 3 million metric tons of
assorted grains and vegetables, with a market
value of about 45 billion naira.
President Jonathan on the transportation
system
Before the advent of this administration, the
Railway system was practically dead. Today, we
have revived the rail sector. The narrow gauge
line from Lagos to Kano has been rehabilitated
with improved coaches providing regular
services. The rehabilitation of the Port
Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line is progressing with
the Port Harcourt-Gombe segment as well as
the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna
expected to be completed and fully operational
by December 2014.
Already, work on the Abuja-Kaduna standard
gauge rail line, is progressing. The tracks of
the rail line will be completed by December this
year 2014. Upon completion of the project in
the first quarter of 2015, it will be possible for
Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja.
The Itape-Ajaokuta-Wari standard gauge line
has attained an advanced stage, with the track
completely laid. We hope to commence full
operation before the end of 2015.
Other segments of the new standard gauge
speed train network are planned with contract
already awarded for the Lagos–Ibadan
Segment. There will be more of such modern
and faster rail connections in the coming years.
Already, discussions are now at advanced stage,
for the Coastal rail line that will traverse
through 10 states, from Lagos through the
South-South and South-East, all the way to
Calabar.
My administration has successfully completed
the dredging of the lower River Niger from
Baro in Niger State to Warri in in Delta State.
The cheering news is that over 6.7 million
passengers and over 1.6 million tonnes of cargo
have been moved through this channel in less
than three years.
I am happy to also report that our ports now
operate 24 hour service, which has led to the
reduction of clearing time and improved
efficiency.
When I assumed office in 2010, out of the
35,000km of federal roads nationwide, only
about 5,000km were motorable. Today, that
number has increased to about 25,000km. We
expect to complete the remaining 10,000km in
three years while initiating new ones.
I made a commitment to build two new major
bridges across the River Niger and River
Benue. Today, the new bridge over the River
Benue, connecting Loko in Nassarawa State to
Oweto in Benue State has reached an advance
stage of completion, while work has commenced
on the Second Niger Bridge.
Beyond these, my administration has concluded
plans to re-commence the construction of Bodo-
Bonny Road with three major bridges on the
alignment that will link the Island of Bonny with
Rivers mainland.
Preliminary works have started on my
administration’s planned re-construction and
expansion of the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport Road in Lagos to a world
class entry point into our country. Only a few
months ago, work started on the dualization of
Kano-Katsina Road. While many Nigerians are
celebrating the marked improvements on our
roads, I want to assure that it will get even
better as we move forward.
In the pursuit of an integrated transportation
system, we embarked on the construction of
five new Airport Terminal Buildings and Air-
field facilities. We are also re-constructing
existing ones. The re-construction upon
completion, will lead to improved passenger
processing, increased cargo handling capacity
and enhanced Air-field facilities that meet
international standard and improves safety.
These efforts have been met with global
acknowledgement including the attainment and
retention of the FAA Category One status.
President Jonathan on the housing sector
In housing, we signed the National Housing
Policy to kick-start the framework for
providing more affordable homes for our
people. We have also expanded the National
Housing Fund to accommodate more Nigerians.
We have started a revolution in the housing
sector with the start of the Nigerian Mortgage
and Refinanced Company (NMRC) a new
initiative of my administration, that will enable
more citizens in the lower income bracket to
become first time home owners.
Our partners such as the World Bank group are
supporting this with US300million dollars
interest free credit, while my administration
will back it with over 100billion naira in bonds.
We are already processing 66,000 mortgage
applications for our young people. We have
amended the PENCOM Act to enable the pension
funds invest in housing sector bonds. This will
create a boom in the housing sector.
President Jonathan on development in Abuja and
FCT

Nairaland

What he mean is: “I Want To Continue Looting Nigeria”

Whats your SAUCE

Was he serving Nigeria before or just wants to start serving Nigeria now. For all we know Jonathan has only served his interest, his wife's ego and his corrupt allies.

sammyyoung2:
Whats your SAUCE

royco and suppy

Incompetent Greedy Zoologist.