My dear countrymen and women,

Today is the 30th anniversary of our independence from colonial rule. I congratulate everyone of us on this occasion and wish you a happy celebration.

As you all know, since the inception of this administration, we have made it clear that our intention is to bring in order and sanity to replace the economic chaos and political instability, in which we found our nation.

Thus we drew up economic, political and social programmes which, we believe, would pull us out of the doldrums.

In this regard, we embarked upon a Structural Adjustment Programme and generally tried to deregulate the economy in order to release the pent up energies of private initiative in the pursuit of our various economic endeavours.

In the political sphere, we have made rapid advances in our political transition programme aimed at handing over the reins of government to a democratically elected civilian administration in 1992. We have reviewed the 1979 Constitution and promulgated the 1989 Constitution. We have established and registered two viable political parties. We have built party offices at the local, state and federal government levels.

So far, we have pursued the Political Transition Programme to the letter. Party emblems have been approved. The two parties have received financial subventions from government and the country now looks forward to the local government elections on December 8. Government organs have been restructured to reflect and facilitate the return of our nation to civilian rule. All is therefore set, as we have solemnly and repeatedly promised, for our hand over of power in 1992.

While we celebrate this anniversary, let us reflect and ponder on the progress we have made since independence.

While identifying areas where we have registered some successes, we should be objective enough to recognise aspects in which we are yet to achieve the targets we have set for ourselves.

After 30 years, we have much to be grateful for, but a long way to go to rid our land of poverty, inequality, ethnicity and bigotry. However, considering the diversity of our great nation, we have cause to thank God for remaining together as one strong and indivisible nation, in spite of the travails we have undergone.

I exhort every one of you to eschew all animosity and cynicism and to work together to ensure the success of the Political Transition Programme.

In this thirtieth year of our independence, by far the majority of our population will have no recollection of colonial days. It is fitting on this occasion to remember with gratitude those who upheld the nationalist struggle and fought for our independence. If we have any responsibility towards them and ourselves, it is to uphold and defend what they fought for and stood for.

The struggle must continue with as much fervour as it did in the forties and fifties, so that our own children may have cause to thank us for the establishment of a truly united, peaceful and economically prosperous Nigeria.

This country belongs to us all and it is the only place on this planet that we can call our own. We should therefore endeavour to maintain peace and order. We should display patriotism and not, either by acts of commission or omission, expose our nation to the enemy who may want to disintegrate it by rendering us homeless and making us a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

Let us remember that it is only through determined endeavour and hard work that we can attain and sustain the goal of national greatness.

Let us, on this anniversary of our precious independence rededicate ourselves to the service of our nation. Let it be our resolve, in whatever field we find ourselves — be it commerce, the Armed Forces, the arts, education, or industry — to strive by all means within our command to do all those things which will leave Nigeria, when we die, stronger than we found her.

Every Nigerian should be his brother's keeper no matter where he or she comes from. We have no other country to call our own but Nigeria. Let us guard our independence jealously. We deserve nothing less.

Fellow countrymen, I wish you all a happy anniversary.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.