As the world marks the birth of Jesus Christ, let me, on
behalf of myself, my family and the Federal
Government, extend the good tidings of peace,
progress and joy to every home throughout our
beloved country Nigeria.
Christmas is a time of joyous family gatherings and as
President, I see every Nigerian as a member of my
family and I urge us all to retain the unique sense of
brotherly love that this season evokes beyond the
Yuletide period.
While we will surely mark this holiday in our different
ways and according to our established traditions, it is
my desire that we all celebrate Christmas with some
minimum comforts and my team and I have long
prepared for this by working to improve our
infrastructure especially those that most serve us
during this season.
Knowing that this period is the peak period for cross
country travels amongst our people, this
administration has fast tracked the repair and
reconstruction of artery roads nationwide. We have
also ensured that the nightmare our citizens suffered
at fuel stations during periods like this is put behind
us. For the second year in a row, train services have
continued to run from the Lagos Terminus all the way
to The hinterlands of the North. This year, we also
introduced cargo and haulage train services from the
Lagos Port to up country locations.
With the Enugu airport now handling international
flights, more of our people can fly directly to their
localities resulting in reduced pressure on our roads.
Our policies to spur local production of staples such as
rice and wheat are bearing fruits as evidenced by the
2013 Global Hunger Index.
Although I will not depend on statistics until every
Nigerian has enough to eat at all times and in every
season, the report is salutary and only galvanizes us to
further action.
I have also personally monitored government's fiscal
effort which we ensured were tightened for the
purpose of avoiding or severely reducing the seasonal
inflationary trends on consumer goods around this
time of the year with the attendant result that inflation
is at single digit rate.
These steps have been undertaken because of my
belief that every good and great thing is possible in
our country if we desire to achieve it.
So, as we all celebrate with friends and family, I say
from me to you, Merry Christmas and may the joys of
the season extend from our individual homes to those
of our neighbors and neighboring communities
irrespective of religion and region. GEJ

merry christmas, oga jona