the embassy of nigeria in the hague, the netherlands

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua

H.E. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Her Exc

Dr.(Mrs.) N.N. Akanbi, Ambassador Embassy of Nigeria, The Hague,

BY H. E. DR. (MRS.) N. N. AKANBI, AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA TO THE ROYAL KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS, 6^TH OCTOBER, 2009

I welcome you all to the celebration of Nigeria’s National Day. Another year has rolled by since I addressed you on a similar occasion of our National Day. It was on the occasion of Nigeria’s 48^th Independence Anniversary, which took place on the 1^st October. 1^st October is the National Day but date of celebration differs in diplomatic circles. The celebration of that historic day when we joined the league of free nations. We thank Almighty Allah for preserving all of us to see another year.

The amiable President, His Excellency, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR is resolved to see the implementation of the 7-Point Agenda of his administration- critical infrastructure, the Niger Delta, food security, security of lives and property, human capital development, land tenure and wealth creation. Within these parameters, the objective is to empower the Nigerian man and to attract direct foreign investment for sustainable development and technological advancement of our nation to becoming one of the world’s twenty largest economies by the year 2020.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to declare that the enthronement of democracy and sustainable development in Nigeria have been tremendous. The transportation system is being overhauled. Recently, the Federal Government commenced the dredging of the lower River Niger, forty three years after the idea was first mooted. This project covers 572km across eight States, and, when completed, it will ensure all-year round navigation of the lower River Niger.

The Government of Nigeria, desirous of a lasting peace to the Niger Delta crisis, which has over the years posed major developmental and environmental challenges to our nation which have adversely affected our national economy, has established the new Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in concert with the NDDC charting a meaningful cause in reverting the infrastructure and development deficit as a demonstration of commitment to the holistic resolution of the crisis in the area. During the year in consolidating the gains of these initiatives, the Government proclaimed a general amnesty and granted unconditional pardon to all those who had taken up arms as a way of drawing attention to the plight of the people of the Niger Delta. Permit me to submit, that at the expiration of the deadline of the Sunday, 4^th October 2009 all militants availed themselves of the amnesty.

It is also appropriate to mention that the power sector has received a boost through massive investments in the last two years in the expansion and strengthening of generation, transmission and distribution capacities and capabilities to provide stable electricity on a sustainable basis and the attainment of the goal of generating 6000 mega watts by December, 2009.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you will agree with me that these are practical demonstration of total commitment of the Yar’Adua administration to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. Therefore, I call on the international Business Community to come and invest in Nigeria as the right environment is abundantly in place.

Nigeria’s vibrant foreign policy has continued to grow since independence making tremendous offering to the development of Africa, invigorating relations with the world and increasing commitment to global peace and security.

Nigeria and the Netherlands have over the years had cordial bilateral relations. It is my determination to strengthening the relations in all areas. I am proud to say that in June 2009, Nigeria/Netherlands relations got a boost through the staging of a Business and Investment Forum for Governors held in The Hague. Four Executive Governors of Nigeria, one Deputy Governor and several top officials of eight States of the Federation including Chieftains and Entrepreneurs of over 300 companies participated in the Forum. Memorandum of Understanding and Joint Venture Agreements were negotiated and signed between the participants. The Business Forum was a novelty, a landmark and a grand breaking event that has opened a new vista in Nigeria/Netherlands relations. The aftermath of the Forum has witnessed an avalanche of request for visas to visit Nigeria by dozens of business organisations at the Embassy. Permit me to thank the Honourable Minister of Economic Affairs of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mrs. Maria Van der Hooven who gave an awe-inspiring speech in which she glowingly referred to Nigeria as an “old and reliable friend of the Netherlands”.

I will like to express satisfaction at the progress I have made so far, and hope that the warm relations we have with the esteemed Dutch citizens will continue to subsist and continue to yield tremendous meaningful benefit to both countries.

In the political arena, relations between the countries witnessed a lot of activities during the year under review. Several visits were exchanged between the members of the Dutch parliament and their Nigerian counterparts. One of such visit was the one led by the Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, H.E. Eke Ekweremadu in February, 2009. The delegation engaged in bilateral discussions with their Dutch counterparts and visited the Institute of Multi Party Democracy (NIMD) where they explored and negotiated areas of mutual collaborations between the Institute and the Nigerian National Assembly.

Our commitments to the various international organizations in the Netherlands have been consistent. We have always given our support and make voluntary contributions to the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). We also participated in various sessions of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague and New York.

The developmental process in Nigeria calls for both citizens at home and in diaspora to be on deck. Hence, it is my desire and conviction to accelerate the mobilization of my nationals in diaspora in all spheres of human endeavor to come together and return home to add their quota to the enviable on-going developmental process. Furthermore, I call on all fellow Nigerians to embrace the “REBRANDING” that is in vogue in the country. We do not have any other home than Nigeria. I am therefore inviting you to rededicate yourselves to ethical values and moral rejuvenation we have set for our dear country.

I enjoin you to continue to be law abiding and responsible in all your endeavors in this country. In the same vein, I wish to reiterate my usual call on Nigerians in the Diaspora to come under a unified umbrella, as they will make tremendous impact in the Netherlands and in Nigeria one platform than under the existing situation.

Usually on our National Day, we try to present to you our cultural life. Our food on one side and drinks. Ask questions someone is there to explain to you if you are interested in our music and clothing among others. Make the best of it and educate yourself about Nigeria and its people. We are distinct as we contribute one of every four blacks in the world. Make effort to know us, so you can think of ways you can work closely with us.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the celebration of the 49^th National Day of Nigeria, I am eager to welcome you to a super celebration of the Century when Nigeria will be 50. Thanking you in advance for coming.

At this stage, may I request Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen to raise your glasses and toast to the good health of the well respected Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, His Excellency, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR