National goal cannot be achieved with ease and simplicity

BUT before we can embark on these great and exciting ventures, there are, because of the current civil war, extensive and intractable hurdles to be cleared as a matter of urgency. These are summed up

in the now familiar expression of ‘Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.’

Much detailed work still has to be done to assess accurately, sector by sector, the capital commitments for reconstruction alone which should not exceed two years to conclude, if we are to avoid frustration and disillusionment of a catastrophic nature among the masses of our people, especially those of them who live in the war-torn areas.

BREAKING: Brig-Gen Ibrahim emerges new NYSC DG

It is quite possible that the total reconstruction capital commitments of the Federal Government (excluding other development capital commitments) may add up to £200 million or more. Of this amount, about £30 million will go for road reconstruction; about £20 million for the development of primary production; about £8 million for the reconstruction of our railways; and about £27 million for the reconstruction of educational facilities.

In addition, considerable amount of money will be required for rehabilitation, reintegration, and compensation for acceptable and approved war damages.

Thus far, in this address, I have painted a picture of a big challenge and of vast opportunities in the economic spheres. I have

done so with every sense of responsibility, and in full awareness of the difficulties and intricacies involved. I have done so also with unshakable faith in the readiness of our people, and of all the country’s agencies of economic development and growth such as your Association, to meet the challenge with equanimity and grit, and to seize the opportunities with firm hands. Our performances in the past justify this faith; and the valuable lessons which the

current emergency is teaching reinforce it.

But there is another task more urgent than that of reconstruction and rehabilitation which must be done before we can embark on the latter and on the objectives which I have previously outlined to you. That task is the early conclusion of the civil war; and the complete restoration of peace to our land. The Federal Military

Government is conscious of the fact that the longer the war lasts the harder or more expensive is the work of reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Compatible, therefore, with our economic survival, all the available resources of the Federation will now, more than ever before, be mobilised and deployed for the early end of this dreadful business.

I say ‘compatible with our economic survival’ advisedly. It is absolutely imperative that, at the end of the present conflict, our economy must remain strong enough to enable the Government to play a decisive role, and take initiative, in solving the ensuing political and economic problems. For this reason, it is incumbent on the Government to so manage its affairs now as not to lead the country into a state of economic exhaustion and paralysis at the end of the civil war.

Accordingly, the Federal Military Government is determined to continue to impose stringent financial discipline on itself, both on the domestic and external fronts, and feels compelled to continue to maintain similar discipline, already imposed on the public at large. It is also determined to continue to employ all the forces at its command to discourage all forms of malpractices in trade and industry now and in the future.

In this connection, the Federal Military Government recognises the need to maintain a state of the utmost mutual confidence between the public and private sectors, as one of the potent means of ensuring unimpaired morale on the part of the latter, as well as unity of minds and efforts on the part of both sectors, in tackling the titanic but historic tasks that lie ahead.

This leads me to the last of the three topics on which I set out to address.

The need to establish a good and harmonious working relationship between the public and private sectors of the economy is ever-present in the mind of the Federal Military Government.

And in spite of the handicaps of the present civil war, this awareness has been demonstrated in a number of ways. I must admit, however, that in respect of some important and far-reaching legislations enacted in recent times, there have been no previous consultations at all with the private sector. The reason is simple. The abnormalities of war, anywhere in the world, tend to generate deep suspicion, and to enjoin and necessitate secretive behaviours. At the same time, apart from these admitted lapses, it is on record, by the candid admission of its former President, that the consultation, which I held with the representatives of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in January, 1968 (we had another one later in the year) was the first of its kind.