- The obstacles to attaining nationhood are still formable but not insurmountable
Let me begin this address by conveying the felicitations from Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, himself, an accomplished media mogul to the publisher and management of The Catholic Herald for service to humanity over this past century. The President observes, particularly that The Herald has sustained the principles of truth, high level of integrity, evangelism and national development worthy of emulation over the past 100 years. Ladies and gentlemen, we are able to celebrate The Catholic Herald today because its founding fathers established it on the foundations of faith, truth and strong convictions.
These attributes have been giving depth and quality to their mission by laying very solid foundations for the publication to grow and thrive. Thrust in the face of technological advancement and changing demographics, emergence of social media and a host of other developments, The Catholic Herald still remains very vibrant and very necessary. The history of Nigeria will never be complete if the contributions of The Catholic Herald are not captured.
The publication was active in our nation’s formative struggles and independence, and this nation which has just turned 64 on the 1st of October. The Catholic Herald and its closest contemporary, the Daily Times both primarily hold a place in Nigeria’s historical records that can point us in the direction of the recovery of our values, and also the recognition of the sterling qualities and contributions of our forefathers. I wish to join Mr. President and all well-meaning Nigerians in congratulating the publisher, His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos and the entire team of The Catholic Herald Weekly newspaper for the centenary milestone.
You deserve accolades for the pivotal role the publication has continued to play, even beyond its primary goal of evangelism in the Archdiocese of Lagos, Nigeria and beyond. Ladies and gentlemen, as we gather here to celebrate, I will be quick to remind us that all facets of our nation, including our faith have continued to face challenges of different dimensions. The obstacles on the way to attaining nationhood is still formable, but not insurmountable. It is on this call that I wish to commend the organisers for choosing the theme, “The Nigerian state: Transcending challenges, attaining true nationhood”, to be delivered by His Lordship, Most Rev. (Dr.) Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.
True nationhood is what we direly need in our country, and it remains the focus of Mr. President’s policy programmes and plans, under the new hope agenda. I am confident that my Lord Bishop, the Bishop of Sokoto will do justice to the theme. Let me use this opportunity to remind us that Nigeria is currently passing through various types of socioeconomic challenges. As a consequence, Nigerians are experiencing hardship which the government is trying hard to assist through short-term, medium-term and long-term policies and programmes.
President Tinubu deeply appreciates the sacrifices made by Nigerians, and is saddened by the level of hardship. He however, assures us that the ongoing economic reform shall take root shortly, and pleads for time and understanding before we come to enjoy the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The need for positive roles that faith-based organisations, particularly the Catholic Church and publications as The Catholic Herald play in dissemination of development agenda of government and values of our nation to ardents of our faith cannot be overemphasised. To achieve our common objectives of recovery and growth, the nation requires an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence and security.
Towards this, the government is seriously tackling the state of insecurity in various zones of the country and is succeeding. It is similarly holding consultations with critical stakeholders, including International Rescue Committee (IRC), traditional rulers, and faith-based organisations as well as National Association of Nigerian Students and other groups, in order to attain peaceful coexistence. On economic development, strategic policies and programme initiatives are ongoing. These include, the establishment of a Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative and the launch of the first phase of 30 donated and 70 hybrid CNG powered buses. This is work in progress.
Because the presidential initiative is designed to run across all geopolitical zones of the country, we must be patient to see and receive some of these proceeds. In addition to commission of CNG buses, some of the trains also are going to be converted to CNG to ease the cost of transportation. Commission of the first created CNG headed from Abuja to Kaduna, aimed at cutting the cost of travelling up to about 50 percent when fully operational is ongoing. Priority is being placed to the growth of economy through SMEs so as to boost businesses and create employment. By so doing, government has to focus on strengthening the backbone of our economy by empowering Nigerians to start or grow their businesses. Government is also re-energising the National Social Universal Programme to effectively address the challenges facing the poor, the vulnerable and the elderly.
The enhancement of the minimum wage from 30,000 naira to 70,000 for Nigerian workers is coming on the heels of world wage award made to mitigate the plight of workers. Investing in human capital through the Nigerian Students’ Loan Fund which has already disbursed the sum of N2.5billion to over 22,120 beneficiaries across higher institutions in the nation is also aimed, and ensuring that parents are relieved of fees burden, and also to grant opportunity to education for all students in the nation.
Tackling insecurity in different parts of the country through institutional and human capacity development is another aim of government. The armed forces and all security agents are being properly equipped to tackle challenges of security, banditry and other criminal activities, including kidnapping. This is already yielding result as insurgents and bandits are surrendering to the authorities in large numbers for regularisation. Farmers are also able to travel to their farms for increased food production.
Mr. President recently introduced a new ministry, the Ministry of Livestock Development, aimed at fostering better relationship between farmers and herders, and also open a new visa of business activities. As part of the consequences of climate change and other environmental factors, the country has experienced serious flooding in several states, resulting in fatalities; destruction of infrastructure, personal belongings, shelter, livelihoods, farms, livestock etc. The humanitarian response of the federal government has been swift, reposed and most effective. Government has drawn lessons from the current situation and has started plans for preventing such tragedies.
The strengthening of dams and also their present conditions is also ongoing. Rising food prices still pose serious challenges to many homes. To enhance food security and availability, and ensure affordability of food, government has removed tariffs on importation of certain categories of food. Government has in addition, distributed fertilisers for improved yield, and other items to boost food production. Irrigation dams are also being planned to ensure a year-round farming. Long-term infrastructure development remains one of the pillars of the Tinubu administration. Particular attention is being paid into investing in transportation infrastructure; road construction, rail and effort projects to enhance connectivity, facilitate trade and improve the overall quality of life for Nigerians.
Ladies and gentlemen, the road to a greater nation is already being paved, and government desires the partnership of our faith-based publications like The Catholic Herald newspaper to communicate to the faithful on the activities of government. Government seeks to increase opportunities for dialogue and communications. To this aim, my office has created a platform called “Let’s Dialogue”, encouraging all sectors and all segments of society to engage in constructive dialogue with government. Finally, let me recognise and congratulate all our awardees.
These awards are in recognition of services rendered to the Church and humanity. I need to add that it’s also a call to more service. As awardees, I encourage you all not to rest on your oars but to seek to do better. We are also encouraged to contribute our own widow’s mite. On fundraising for the unveiling of audiovisual studio, “I urge all of us as chairman of this occasion, to generously donate to this cause in the days and in the months ahead. The Catholic Herald is also expected to increase its activities.
• Sen. George Akume is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Republic of Nigeria.