JONATHAN PLEDGES IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURITY, POWER, INFRASTRUCTURE IN 2011

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Friday promised Nigerians significant improvements in security, power supply, national infrastructure, education, health care and employment generation in 2011.

The president made the pledge in Abuja in his New Year message to the nation.

Jonathan said that his administration would work harder in the coming months to ensure that ordinary Nigerians began to feel the tangible benefits of the economic growth recorded by the country in recent years.

He added that the Federal Government would give particular attention to effective implementation of the new national job creation scheme.

Jonathan said further that N50 billion had been earmarked in the 2011 Appropriation Bill to create thousands of new jobs for the country's unemployed youths.

He said that to further boost employment, his administration would initiate a massive national public works programme in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The pubic works, he said, included the renovation, rehabilitation and upgrading of schools, medical facilities, roads and other public utilities.

The president also said that $500 million facility would be made available to support small and growing medium scale businesses.

Jonathan said that the fund would supplement the N500 billion intervention fund, which had been established for the country's power, manufacturing and aviation sectors.

He noted that the measures being evolved by his administration to improve the quality of lives could only be effectively implemented in a secure, peaceful and politically stable environment.

He urged all stakeholders to play positive roles in ensuring that this year's general elections were conducted peacefully to further consolidate Nigeria's status as a stable democracy.

He thanked all Nigerians for their support, loyalty and cooperation since his assumption of office in May 2010.

'With your continued support and votes in the 2011 elections, we will continue to give dedicated and committed leadership to ensure that Nigeria moves much more rapidly toward the fulfilment of its immense capacity as a nation,' Jonathan said.

The president wished all Nigerians a happy, prosperous and rewarding 2011.