• Jonathan Pledges To Tackle Kidnapping
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday disclosed that the Federal Government would no longer get involved directly in the establishment of new refineries in the country.
Instead, the government would provide a level playing ground for the private sector to build new refineries in Nigeria.
The President dropped this hint while answering questions at a town hall meeting organised by the Akwa Ibom government as part of activities lined up for his two-day working visit to the state.
Also, against the backdrop of the gaping holes in current legislation on crime and the apparent failure of the Nigeria Police to stem the scourge nationwide, President Jonathan has promised that the Federal Government would review all extant laws on kidnapping with a view to strengthening them to address current realities.
However, President Jonathan declined to make a categorical declaration on when the country would enjoy stable power supply, saying he did not want to make the same “mistakes” made by past administrations on the power crisis.
The President also tactically avoided all questions on his participation or otherwise in next year’s polls.
His words: “The focus of government is not to directly get involved in the establishment of refineries. We are encouraging the private sector to build refineries. So, what government is involved in is public-private partnership [PPP] but not NNPC directly building refineries.
“What is actually limiting the establishment of these refineries is the pricing of petroleum products. Once this is done, building refineries through direct private sector or PPP participation will not be an issue.”
On kidnapping, the President said: “We are aware that in some communities, kidnapping is taken as serious business. We are working with the National Assembly to look at the laws. We are also aware that well placed persons are involved in this ‘business,’ and often come to negotiate with the kidnappers on what ransom to place on their victims.”
The President said government would not fold its arm while criminals continue to terrorize the citizenry, adding that arrangements have been concluded to procure sophisticated communications equipment for the police to tackle crimes, including kidnapping.
He stressed that once the laws were put in place, anyone found culpable would be brought to book irrespective of his status in society.
On the power problem, President Jonathan said: “One thing about power is that, once you get to a level, say 10,000 megawatts, which is the target, by the time the power improves, people would bring in more appliances.
Until we get up to 40,000 megawatts, I don’t think it will be stable. So, you cannot even say next year; even if you have target, it will not really give us what we want.
“But all I promise you is that we are taking it very seriously. We meet every week to review the situation and by God’s grace, we will continue to progress until we get stable power for domestic and industrial use.”
From Inem Akpan-Nsoh Uyo
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday disclosed that the Federal Government would no longer get involved directly in the establishment of new refineries in the country.
Instead, the government would provide a level playing ground for the private sector to build new refineries in Nigeria.
The President dropped this hint while answering questions at a town hall meeting organised by the Akwa Ibom government as part of activities lined up for his two-day working visit to the state.
Also, against the backdrop of the gaping holes in current legislation on crime and the apparent failure of the Nigeria Police to stem the scourge nationwide, President Jonathan has promised that the Federal Government would review all extant laws on kidnapping with a view to strengthening them to address current realities.
However, President Jonathan declined to make a categorical declaration on when the country would enjoy stable power supply, saying he did not want to make the same “mistakes” made by past administrations on the power crisis.
The President also tactically avoided all questions on his participation or otherwise in next year’s polls.
His words: “The focus of government is not to directly get involved in the establishment of refineries. We are encouraging the private sector to build refineries. So, what government is involved in is public-private partnership [PPP] but not NNPC directly building refineries.
“What is actually limiting the establishment of these refineries is the pricing of petroleum products. Once this is done, building refineries through direct private sector or PPP participation will not be an issue.”
On kidnapping, the President said: “We are aware that in some communities, kidnapping is taken as serious business. We are working with the National Assembly to look at the laws. We are also aware that well placed persons are involved in this ‘business,’ and often come to negotiate with the kidnappers on what ransom to place on their victims.”
He stressed that once the laws were put in place, anyone found culpable would be brought to book irrespective of his status in society.
On the power problem, President Jonathan said: “One thing about power is that, once you get to a level, say 10,000 megawatts, which is the target, by the time the power improves, people would bring in more appliances.
Until we get up to 40,000 megawatts, I don’t think it will be stable. So, you cannot even say next year; even if you have target, it will not really give us what we want.
“But all I promise you is that we are taking it very seriously. We meet every week to review the situation and by God’s grace, we will continue to progress until we get stable power for domestic and industrial use.”
From Inem Akpan-Nsoh Uyo
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