Vice President Namadi Sambo has assured the Nigerian community in Tanzania that the Federal Government has intensified efforts to check the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Malam Umar Sani, the vice president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, said such efforts had started yielding positive results.
Sambo gave the assurance during an audience with members of the Nigerian community in Dares Salam, Tanzania.
The statement stated that Sambo noted with satisfaction the concerted efforts of the security agencies in the fight against the terror group in the North East zone of the country.
The vice president, according to the statement, said government was particularly proud of the security agencies’ commitment to ending insurgency in the country.
He said the Federal Government was doing everything possible, including cooperating with neighbouring countries, to check the insurgents.
‘‘I want to seize this opportunity to inform you that the Federal Government is doing everything to ensure that the Boko Haram menace is addressed in Nigeria and we are getting positive results.
‘‘I must say that we are very proud of our security agencies. They have been doing very well and this issue, by God’s grace, will be a thing of the past very soon.
‘‘I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to end this; we are co-operating with our neighbouring countries to bring this to an end soon,’’ the statement further quoted the vice president as saying.
Sambo, who commended the good reports on Nigerians living in Tanzania, urged them to re-dedicate themselves in the true Nigerian spirit to contribute immensely to the growth of the economy of their host country.
‘‘In doing so, you are in many ways also contributing to the development of your fatherland.
‘‘Our determined industrious and enterprising nature is recognised all over the world. We must put to bear this God-given quality in the pursuit of our daily lives.
‘‘I am, therefore, happy to note that we have not had any negative report concerning Nigerians in Tanzania. We cannot but remind ourselves that with good image comes sacrifices,’’ he said.
The statement quoted the vice president as informing the audience of the successes of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
Sambo said Nigeria’s ýrebasing of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1990 to 2010 resulted in the increase by 40 to 70 per cent of the GDP.
The GDP, which was initially put at $262.6 billion by the World Bank, was increased to $510 billion.
‘‘This favourable economic indicator confirms Nigeria as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
“ This is a clear testimony of the prudent management of government’s scare resources and sound socio-economic policiesý.
‘‘This growth is amplified in the agriculture sector; this is leading the pace in Africa today in wholesale and retail trade, entertainment, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as in the Oil and Gas sectors of our economy,’’ he said.
Sambo also listed the successes recorded in the agriculture and transport sectors.
He said aside the remodelling of some of the countries airport , the administration was also focusing on terminals, safety facilities, infrastructure, towers, runways and fencing.
Responding to a question ýon Nigerians in Diaspora being able to vote, the vice president said, ‘‘until every Nigerian is registered and known, only then will the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) be able to allow Nigerians in Diaspora to vote.
‘‘But for now, if we don’t have your record in the country, that means anybody can vote and claim to be a Nigerian.
‘‘So, something is being done and soon Nigerians abroad will be able to vote.’’
On the concerns about the constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers, Sambo said that government was addressing the situation with a view to ending crisis.
‘‘We have taken the decision to establish grazing reserves which will grow into ranches. The ranches will also have different businesses.
‘‘We want to in fact fully participate in the Halal meat business which is over $1 trillion today and Nigeria is not benefiting.
‘‘We want to be transporting our beef in refrigerated trucks or trains after being killed in a standard abbatoirs.
The statement said Sambo welcomed the suggestion that government should form a think tank of Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers with a view to sharing experiences with seasoned technocrats in an attempt to contribute meaningfully to addressing some of the country’s enormous challenges.
Earlier in his remarks, ýthe High Commissioner, Dr Ishaya Majambuý, said there were 14 Technical Aid Corps volunteers serving in Zanzibar.
He said the Tanzanian government and people regarded Nigeria as a critical factor ýon the African continent.
The statement quoted Majambu as expressing regret that the relationship between Nigeria and Tanzania had not been consummated into socio-economic gains such as bilateral investments.
According to him, Tanzania is endowed with natural and mineral resources and only recently discovered gas in commercial quantity estimated to last for more than 100 years.
The high commissioner said efforts were being made to attract foreign direct investment to Nigeria.
He noted that three Nigerian companies—Dangote Cement factory, Tony Elumelu Farms and the United Bank for Africa— had already established presence in Tanzania.
Majambu said the population of Nigerians in Tanzania were between 100 and 200 with 70 per cent of them living in Dares Salaam.
According to Majambu, the affected Nigerians were made up of retail traders, students, contract workers and United Nations employees, while those not registered with the High Commission were engaged in illegal activities.
The statement said among those at the meeting were the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, Sen. Zego Aziz and other principal aides of the vice president.
Sambo was in Tanzania as representative of President Goodluck Jonathan at the golden jubilee celebration of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibarý on April 26, 1964.