Read 7 important things President Muhammadu Buhari discussed in his Independence Day speech today.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has released the anniversary Pigeon and also cuts the independence cake.

1. Patriotism
The president asked Nigerians not to think about the current challenges that they are facing but to focus on honouring the day.
“No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop us from honouring this day. Let us remind ourselves of the gifts God has given us. Nigeria is the ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition – Arable land, Water, Forests, Oil and gas, Coastline and Solid minerals.


2. Patience
Buhari said he knows that Nigerians want quick solutions to problems but they should be patient with him.
“My countrymen and women, every new government inherits problems. Ours was no different. But what Nigerians want are solutions, quick solutions not a recitation of problems inherited. Accordingly, after consultations with the Vice President, senior party leaders and other senior stakeholders, I quickly got down to work on the immediate, medium-term and long-term problems which we must solve if we are to maintain the confidence which Nigerians so generously bestowed on us in the March elections and since then.

3. Jonathan the Hero
President Buhari also applauded Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan for his decision to concede defeat during the last general election. Jonathan whose decision was applauded by the international community saved the country from chaos.
“The fact that an opposition party replaced an entrenched government in a free and fair election is indicative of the deeper roots of our democratic system. Whatever one’s views are, Nigerians must thank former President Jonathan for not digging-in in the face of defeat and thereby saving the country untold consequences.”

4. Boko Haram
Boko Haram’s ongoing insurgency in Northern Nigeria has been a major problem for over five years. The president iterated his efforts so far toward putting an end to the insurgency.
“Our gallant armed forces under new leadership have taken the battle to the insurgents, and severely weakened their logistical and infrastructural capabilities. Boko Haram are being scattered and are on the run.”

5. Power
Several investors have left Nigeria due to poor power infrastructure. Although the issue, which has become a norm for Nigerians, seem to be improving. In his speech, President Buhari said that they are working towards putting an end to the menace.
“On power, government officials have held a series of long sessions over several weeks about the best way to improve the nation’s power supply in the safest and most cost effective way. In the meantime, improvement in the power supply is moderately encouraging.”

6. Nigeria’s petroleum sector
President Buhari also talked about his efforts towards cleansing Nigeria’s oil sector, which has been plagued by corruption for years.
“Preliminary steps have been taken to sanitise NNPC and improve its operations so that the inefficiency and corruption could be reduced to a minimum. Those of our refineries which can be serviced and brought back into partial production would be enabled to resume operations so that the whole sordid business of exporting crude and importing finished products in dubious transactions could be stopped.”

7. The ministerial list
The president who said after his inauguration that he was going to appoint minsters by September was only able to submit a list of 21 nominees on September 30. In response to critics, he used the speech to defend why he was late in submitting the list.
“Anyway, the wait is over. The first set of names for ministerial nominees for confirmation has been sent to the senate. Subsequent lists will be forwarded in due course. Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country is what the APC government for CHANGE is all about.”