President says kidnap of girls will be beginning and end of terrorism in Nigeria
President Goodluck Jonathan has said that with the support Nigeria was getting from the international community, the kidnap of the over 250 female students in Chibok, Borno State would be the “beginning and end of terrorism in Nigeria.”
The president also commended the United Kingdom, France, United States, and China for indicating interest to help Nigeria fight terrorism and ensure stability in the country.
Mr. Jonathan commended the four world powers at the on-going 24th World Economic Forum, WEF, on Africa on Thursday in Abuja.
Nigeria is the first country to host the forum in West Africa. The forum’s theme is Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs.
Mr. Jonathan said the presence of many participants at the forum indicated a sign that the fight against terror would be won.
According to him, if the participants had refused to come, the terrorists would have rejoiced.
“Your coming here to support us morally is a major blow to the terrorists and by God’s grace, we will conquer the terrorists. I appreciate other countries that have expressed their commitment to help us especially in rescuing the girls abducted from one of our secondary schools.
“The Premier of China has been with us for a state visit and the Government of China has promised to help us, and we believe that this assistance will come almost immediately. The governments of United States of America, the United Kingdom and France have also spoken with me and have shown their commitment to resolve this crisis in Nigeria.
“I believe that the kidnap of the girls will be the beginning and end of terrorism in Nigeria,” he said.
The girls were kidnapped on the night of April 14 from their dormitory at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram. The sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a video threatened to sell or marry off the teenagers.
Mr. Shekau, a fugitive wanted in Nigeria and the United States, leads the terror group that has caused the death of thousands of people since its insurgency began in 2009.
Apart from his comment on the fight against terrorism, President Jonathan also spoke on other issues.
On unemployment rate in Nigeria, President Jonathan said that efforts must be geared towards ensuring that the rate was reduced. He said Africa’s unemployment rate was at 20 per cent while that of Nigeria was 24 per cent.
He noted that African leaders must ensure that inclusive growth was achieved through various innovations to create job for the youth population on the continent.
He noted that the Nigeria’s 2014 budget had been designed to create jobs. He said Nigerian youth, through initiatives such as You Win, SURE-P and Young Entrepreneurs, had been empowered and jobs created.
“Job creation must be what should occupy the time of every African leader. It is keeps me awake at night,” he said.
He said that the on-going transformation agenda of his administration had focused on areas that would drive inclusive growth.
The President noted that the rebasing of the Nigerian economy, which had made the country’s economy the largest in Africa, also provided an opportunity to improve many sectors.
The sectors, he said, included agriculture, services and entertainment, among others.
“We are engaging with the private sector to tackle infrastructure problems and we are trying to change the mind set of our young people to understand that after school, they do not need to depend on government jobs,” he said.
On inequality, he said Nigeria was understudying the Brazilian social safety net conditional cash transfer model to help change the lives of the poor in the country. He assured that his administration would continue to ensure that jobs were created and poverty reduced in the country.
He urged other African leaders to think bold and high about their policies to ensure that inclusive growth is witnessed in the region soon.
One minute of silence was observed for the support of the effort to rescue the Chibok girls.
(NAN)
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