President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday blamed the escalating insurgency in the country on the Nigerian media.
Jonathan, who stated this through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Reuben Abati noted that the media was blowing the security situation in the north eastern part of the country out of proportion.
The president made this remark at the opening of the meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investment Council.
Jonathan told the international community that the Federal Government of Nigeria was working round the clock to thwart the efforts of Boko Haram sect to capture or hold any Nigerian territory, adding that Armed Forces and security agencies were making fruitful progress in recovering areas recently taken by the sect.
He was quoted by Abati as saying, “We are improving on security.
“For about a week now, there have been no reports of Boko Haram seizing more territory. Rather, we are steadily pushing them back.
“The impression being created by sections of the media that the situation is worsening is not true.
“I can assure you that it will never get worse.”
Jonathan also told members of the council headed by Baroness Lynda Chalker, why he decided to offer himself for re-election in the 2015 general elections.
He said: “As you already know, I have indicated my willingness to carry on for another four years, if I am given the opportunity.
“This will enable us to carry forward some of the reforms we have been talking about.”
He added that “We cannot move the economy forward without good infrastructure. We have been working very hard in that area.
“We have improved our road network significantly. In the next three to four years, we should be able to resurface almost all federal roads in the country and begin new ones.
“We are improving our airport terminals and aviation security.
“Reforms are also ongoing at our ports to drastically reduce the time required for import clearance formalities.
“In the rail sector, we may require private sector funds to quicken the pace of development. Our goal is to link all state capitals by rail.
“It may not be an objective that can be achieved by a single administration, but we want to lay a solid foundation that others can build on.
“We are also promoting the increased of local content in our oil industry because that is the only way in which our people will benefit more from the industry.
“With that they will begin to see themselves as true stakeholders who need to protect and help in the development of our oil and gas resources”.
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