The
Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, said that 2013 is going to be a game changer and a turning point
for the country.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, said that 2013 is going to be a game changer and a turning point
for the country.
The minister, who said this on the Christiane Amanpour current
affairs programme, “Amanpour” monitored on CNN Tuesday, said that the President
Goodluck Jonathan administration was going to produce results this year, even
as she pointed out: “We are already producing results within the
administration.”
affairs programme, “Amanpour” monitored on CNN Tuesday, said that the President
Goodluck Jonathan administration was going to produce results this year, even
as she pointed out: “We are already producing results within the
administration.”
Okonjo-Iweala added: “On the economic side, I just want to say
that macroeconomic stability has been restored. Now, nobody should minimise
that.
that macroeconomic stability has been restored. Now, nobody should minimise
that.
“Remember there were the lost two decades in Africa, in the 80s
and 90s, where there was instability such that people could not focus on areas
that could create jobs.
and 90s, where there was instability such that people could not focus on areas
that could create jobs.
“Now things are turning right because we had growth of 6.5 per
cent last year and we are projecting the same number this year, compared to the
average five per cent in other African countries.”
cent last year and we are projecting the same number this year, compared to the
average five per cent in other African countries.”
The minister however admitted the growth figure was intangible
and could not be felt by the average Nigerian seeking employment and grappling
with the challenges of insecurity and other vices in the country.
and could not be felt by the average Nigerian seeking employment and grappling
with the challenges of insecurity and other vices in the country.
“But I just want to add that when you mention GDP growth in my
country, people will immediately say you can’t eat growth because we have
challenges of unemployment, we need to create more jobs; we also have
challenges of inclusion and there are problems of inequality, all those are
challenges we face,” she said.
country, people will immediately say you can’t eat growth because we have
challenges of unemployment, we need to create more jobs; we also have
challenges of inclusion and there are problems of inequality, all those are
challenges we face,” she said.
The finance minister also called for the cooperation of the
international community so that Nigeria could overcome the rising spate of oil
theft.
international community so that Nigeria could overcome the rising spate of oil
theft.
Okonjo-Iweala, who put the volume of oil stolen from the country
daily at 150,000 barrels, expressed disappointment over the loss of revenue to
the nation.
daily at 150,000 barrels, expressed disappointment over the loss of revenue to
the nation.
According to her, “We are still a poor country, we cannot afford
any leakage. Mexico and Nigeria have this problem but that of Mexico is much
smaller.
any leakage. Mexico and Nigeria have this problem but that of Mexico is much
smaller.
“But we also need international community to get involved. We
have international people who buy this stolen oil and we need them to treat it
as stolen crude just like you do with blood diamonds so that those people don’t
have a market to sell the stolen oil.”
have international people who buy this stolen oil and we need them to treat it
as stolen crude just like you do with blood diamonds so that those people don’t
have a market to sell the stolen oil.”
Responding to a question on corruption, Okonjo-Iweala, who
admitted that Nigeria does have a problem with corruption just like so many
other countries, however noted that there are a lot of hardworking and honest
Nigerians.
admitted that Nigeria does have a problem with corruption just like so many
other countries, however noted that there are a lot of hardworking and honest
Nigerians.
“I don’t like the fact that when people mention Nigeria, the
next thing they say is corruption. This is a country of 170 million people and
99.9 per cent of them are honest, hardworking citizens who just want to get on
with their lives and they want a government that delivers for them.
next thing they say is corruption. This is a country of 170 million people and
99.9 per cent of them are honest, hardworking citizens who just want to get on
with their lives and they want a government that delivers for them.
“We lack institutions, we lack processes. What President
Jonathan has done is to call the judiciary, legislature and executive for the
first time and say this is not about government but about all of us. The
judicial process has to be strengthened,” she added.
Jonathan has done is to call the judiciary, legislature and executive for the
first time and say this is not about government but about all of us. The
judicial process has to be strengthened,” she added.
Source: Thisday
