By Henry Umoru

Goodluck Jonathan  has reiterated his total commitment to the timely completion of the ongoing independent power projects across the country.

According to him, the government needed to address this problem against the backdrop of putting in place a very solid foundation for making the private sector the engine of economic growth of the country, adding that this still remains the government’s priority. Speaking yesterday at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Proposed Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), President Jonathan  also promised to solve the hydra headed problems of energy and power which according to him, was very vital to rapid transformation of the economy.

Represented by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jibril Martins Kuye, the President noted that the administration has made progress in removing obstacles and constraints that for years severely inhibited the growth and development of the economy, adding that the nation’s economy was still largely characterized by huge government investment in public enterprises.

According to him,  “As you are aware, this administration has made concerted efforts on the formulation and implementation of policies and strategies for ensuring food security, employment generation, poverty eradication, industrial development and economic empowerment.”

According to the President, if all these must be achieved, there must be Private sector led economy which must be championed and supported by committed investors, even as he admitted that the industrial sector has had some challenges resulting in stunted growth and outright extinction of large number of enterprises and therefore not contributing meaningfully to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

President Jonathan who noted that rather than solely rely on oil as the major source of revenue earnings, government was making efforts to develop all sectors of the economy to ensure employment generation, poverty reduction and wealth creation, adding that all Nigerians should take advantage of the current climate  of deregulation  and economic liberalization in the country geared towards repositioning  the country for the challenges of globalization.