The Presidency has listed 57 achievements recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the last two and half years in commemoration of Nigeria’s 57th Independence anniversary.
The achievements were listed in a statement by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in the office of the Vice President.
Akande included the Release of 106 Chibok girls, as well as over 16,000 persons in Boko Haram captivity and the decimation of Boko Haram in the North East.
He added restoring the morale of the Nigerian military; re-organizing and better equipping the Nigerian Armed Forces and the purchase of 12 Super-Tucano aircrafts worth $600 million to aid the Nigerian military’s current operations in the North East.
On economy, the achievements are Implementing the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to aid economic recovery, taking the country out of her worst recession in 29 years, despite fall in oil prices.
Effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account, and increasing government revenue by over N3 trillion as well as entrenching transparency and accountability.
Implementation of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), thus tackling corruption by plugging loopholes for siphoning of public fund and tracking of illicit funds through multiple accounts.
Improving transport infrastructure (rail and road); construction work ongoing on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, renovation of Abuja International Airport runway, completion of Abuja – Kaduna Railway among others.
Social Investment Programmes (SIP): N-Power Volunteer Scheme creating jobs for over 200,000 (and still counting) unemployed graduates in all the 36 states and the FCT.
The take-off of the 2nd Niger Bridge and phasing out subsidy for petroleum products, elimination of fuel scarcity and queues in petrol stations.
Akande also listed improved power generation nationwide adding $500million to Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund and about $87million to its excess crude account and the creation of the N30billion Solid Minerals Development Fund.
Bailout of cash crunch states; about N689 billion to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries in 2015 and complete refund of Paris loan deductions to states which he described as ‘unprecedented’.
Implementing the 2011 UNEP report for the ongoing Ogoni clean-up process after decades of oil spills and pollution and reforms in the airports (reconstruction of the Abuja airport runway and ongoing work at the Lagos airport).
Increasing external reserves to a 13 month high of $33 billion from $29.13 billion which has surpassed the ERGPs target of $30.56 billion despite global low oil prices and production challenges.
Cancellation of the Joint Venture cash calls with oil multinational companies operating in Nigeria (For the first time in the history of the industry) which has led to savings of billions of dollars lost to fictitious contract payments.
On the anti-graft battle, the Presidency listed the following as achievements: Improving Nigeria’s international image and regional cooperation with neighbouring countries in fighting insurgency.
On anti-corruption war: Prosecuting alleged corrupt public officers and recovering billions of naira of stolen public funds; the successful establishment of the whistle-blower policy.
Signing of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) toward strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign and the establishment of PACAC.