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NIGERIAN President Umaru Yar'Adua has vowed to fight endemic corruption in a broadcast marking the 47th anniversary of independence in his oil-rich west African country.
Nigeria, a former British colony, got its political independence on October 1, 1960. But despite its vast human and mineral resources, Africa's most populous country of 140 million people has been bedevilled with corruption, losing billions of dollars every year.
"We shall continue with unmediated dedication in our determination to check corruption, reduce poverty, grow our national economy, entrench absolute respect for the rule of law, eradicate abuse of due process and create opportunities for all Nigerians," Yar'Adua said in a radio and television broadcast.
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The president noted the country's tortuous journey in the last 47 years, and pledged his government would make in a difference in the lives of Nigerians.
"Almost against all odds, we always summoned uncommon resilence and with abiding faith in our common national purpose, we overcame all," he said.
The president said his government had begun the process of rebuilding basic infrastructure in the country. "The energy challenge will be met in a holistic manner.
We shall be guided by our national consensus for democratic governance and strengthening our democratic institutions. We shall in particular ensure that our electoral process is of the highest quality and meets international best practice," he assured.
He also promised to tackle the crisis in the oil-rich but restive Niger Delta where militant activities have reduced Nigeria's daily exports of 2.14 million barrels by a quarter in the past two years.
More than 200 foreigners, mostly in the oil sector, have been kidnapped but later released in the same period, while dozens of Nigerian security personnel and a few foreigners have been killed. "In the troubled Niger Delta in particular, we shall secure the region for growth and development while effectively tackling criminal dimension to the problem," Yar'Adua said.
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