Transformation Agenda: FG Achieved 8 Of 14 Objectives, Says Minister - See more at: The Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, said the Federal Government had achieved eight of the 14 key objectives of its transformation agenda. Usman stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2013 Democracy Day celebration and the presentation of mid-term report of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda. The minister said the achievements recorded by the administration in the areas had impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians. According to the minister, Nigerians doubted the achievements made by the government, judging by micro-economic figures like the GDP growth, but the physical improvement in transportation, aviation and agriculture are not doubtful. He said the railway, which became irrelevant for more than 30 years, was now on track. Usman gave the example of the western rail corridor from Lagos to Kano and the intra-city train in Lagos, Kaduna and Kano which, he said, were now fully operational. The minister said there had also been improvements on key roads like the Benin-Ore road, Kano-Maiduguri road and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road. He said the improvement in the sector had reduced travelling time and carnage as well as increased productivity. Usman said there had been significant improvement in power, adding that the government was working hard to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the country. The minister said the Federal Government had also saved significant amount of money by blocking loopholes in the procurement of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs and ensuring direct distribution to farmers. He said government policy on agriculture had also engendered high production in crops like cassava, wheat and rice thereby moving the country to self-sufficiency in food production and liberating the people from poverty. Usman said there had also been a significant improvement in airports across the country with the expansion, renovation and remodelling works there. H said government had attracted more than 7 billion dollars in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country in the last two years, making it the number one investment destination on the continent. Usman said the government had also recorded achievement in the development of the FCT by turning it into a model city, adding that the development aided its selection for the hosting of World Economic Forum for Africa in 2014. Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, said the administration had recorded achievements in advancement in the rule of law, promotion of citizen’s rights and democratic institutions. He said happenings in the areas were not by accident but through the deliberate policies formulated by the administration, adding that it had, in the last two years, put in place process that would sustain and deepen democracy. He said the administration had ensured equitable distribution of social amenities and put in place workable checks and balances. Anyim further said that the uncommon restrains by the President in the face of ``provocative challenges’’ had helped to deepen democracy in the last two years. He also noted the unprecedented growth in the numbers of civil society groups in the country. The SGF said the administration had made the space free and expanded it to encourage people to come together, adding that the widened space had made citizens bolder and more assertive with opposition parties enjoying total liberty. He also said that the Freedom of Information law had granted unfettered freedom to the media and that the judiciary had become the last hope of the common man. (NAN) - See more at: leadership.ng/news/290513/transformation-agenda-fg-achieved-8-14-objectives-says-minister#sthash.5BtjeIuC.dpuf
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 05:55:11 +0000
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