Jonathan showcases achievements, promises to do more

By Abiodun Alade

President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed some of his achievements since assuming office as the president of the country, promising to do more.

He took to his verified facebook page (Goodluck Jonathan) to announce to his followers totalling almost 2 million people that he will give account of his stewardship to them.

“My dear friends on Facebook, in the following days and weeks, I would be reporting back to you on what I have done with the mandate you gave me four years ago. In many ways, I see you as a special constituency of mine because of the love and support you have shown me on this page since I came on Facebook on the 28th of June 2010,” he posted.

True to his words, he has started enumerating some of his achievements with accompanying photos.

“The Average Life Expectancy in Nigeria was 47 years in 2010. Five years down the line, working together, we have succeeded in increasing Nigeria’s Average Life Expectancy to 54 years as at today and climbing. And the government I head will not rest on its oars in improving all our health indices to make sure that Nigerians not only live longer lives, but that we live better quality lives.

“And unity is our tool in this regard. The type of unity with which Nigeria defeated the Ebola Virus Disease will be harnessed for use in tackling the challenges in our health sector. Already, we are equipping and upgrading facilities in our teaching hospitals and many are carrying out surgeries they never could, because of equipment.

“Only last year, the United Nations certified Nigeria Guinea Worm free. I am reliably informed that not before long, we will also be certified free of the Wild Polio Virus.

“This is progress. This is Transformation. This is ‪#‎ForwardNigeria GEJ,” the post read.

In another post, he spoke of the transformation train in Lagos that has saved many Lagosians from the hustle and bustle of traffic.

“A silent revolution is taking place in Lagos. Everyday, thousands of Lagosians are escaping the hustle and bustle of Lagos traffic by traversing the mainland in the new air condition Diesel Multiple Unit trains. These trains were introduced by my administration as a fore taste of our plan to develop an inter and intra city high speed train network for Lagos.

“The Federal Government has already signed a $1.5 Billion contract for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Express Train. This service, when complete, will make it possible to live in Ibadan and work in Lagos. This is progressing simultaneously with the $12 Billion Lagos-Calabar coastal rail project. This project is 1, 402 kilometres long and will link Lagos to Calabar with stops at cities along the route. We have good plans for Lagos, plans that will ensure that Lagos continues to be the Centre of Excellence and a pride to Nigeria. GEJ”.

President Jonathan noted that education is the foundation for the consistent growth of the nation, pledging the commitment of his administration to the growth of the sector.

He said in the post, “Education is the only foundation that can ensure the consistent growth of a nation. I have always believed that a nation will not become great by the minerals under her ground. Such will only come by developing the human resources of the country.

“When I came on board in 2010, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kogi, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Taraba, Yobe, Kebbi and Zamfara had no Federal University. During my 2011 presidential campaigns, I promised to establish at least one university in these states.


Jonathan in Kano

“This is the year 2015 and I have kept my word. Each of those states now has a Federal University. In addition, this administration has built 125 Almajiri schools to cater for our valued children who were outside the formal education system.

“Experts have said that where education increases, fatalities reduces and it is no surprise to the Federal Government that our infant and maternal mortality rates have dropped considerably as our investments in education has increased.

“We will not stop there. Having substantially tackled access to education, our ongoing efforts to improve quality will be intensified. Education is key to our advancement, and we will do this only with your help and cooperation. ”

On infrastructure, the president noted that “When I came into office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 6th of May 2010, I met a moribund railway system and I vowed to myself that this vital infrastructure will be revived as it offered the most inexpensive mode of transportation for our people.

“Today, four years later, I am pleased to report to you that our railways are back on track. Our people can now take the Lagos-Kano service for only N1, 930 and the Port Harcourt-Enugu service for only N300.

“I was pleased to read a comment on my page from Oraye St. Franklyn, who took a ride on the Port Harcourt-Enugu service of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. He expressed his delight as a parent that his children had entered a train in Nigeria for the first time in their lives.

“And we are not stopping here. This administration just completed the tracks for the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway. Plans have reached an advanced stage for a new rail-line from Lagos to Calabar and another between Ibadan and Lagos.

“Our plan, which we intend to bring to fruition with your support, is to link every commercial and administrative capital in Nigeria by rail thereby bringing our people closer. We must continue to strengthen the bond of our union,” assured Jonathan.

Collaborating the view of his principal, Mr. Reno Omokri, the Special Assistant to the President on New Media, also projected some of the achievements of the president on his twitter page.

Omokri accompanied some of his posts with video showcasing the giant strides of the president in the agriculture sector with millions of farmers empowered, reduction in food importation and ensuring food security in the country.

He also disclosed that the administration of Jonathan has remodelled and renovated 22 federally-owned airports after 30 years of neglect.

“ As APC holds rallies telling people GEJ has done nothing, they should bear in mind many folks came to their rally on trains Jonathan revived.

“The $12 billion Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail project of the Jonathan govt is the most expensive project ever initiated in Lagos.

Yes Jonathan rented Kano crowd by restoring Lagos-Kano rail, building Almajiri schools, repairing & dualizing Kano-Maiduguru Rd #GEJisit✓”



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