Vice President Namadi Sambo yesterday described corruption in in the country as a cancer which had been frustrating government’s efforts towards uplifting the quality of life of the people.
He vowed that government would fight the cankerworm to a stand-still for the general progress of the country.
The Vice President who stated this at a group dinner organised in honour of the Year 2010 and 2011 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Awardees, in Abuja, saod that “the federal government had also resolved to promote Science and Technical Education at all levels.
“Research and Development is one of the Sambo said Research Development was critical to the growth and must be pursed with resume? vigour the major policy thrust of the administration.
“The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the immediate establishment of five specialised universities to boost science and technical education in the country. The Federal Executive Council has also decided that each state of the federation must have a specialised university and to this end, five of such universities already approved have commenced and by 2012 all outstanding states are expected to have a specialised federal universityal.? Sambo noted that some parts of the country had started witnessing stability in power supply and assured that government would soon inject additional megawatts into the national grid.
He announced that the Federal Government was investing for the first time in the Coal to Power programme as part of its deliberate efforts to boost electricity supply in the country, adding that already Enugu, Benue, Kogi and Gombe States have been selected.
“Government has also embarked on the construction of over 3,000 kilometers of dual carriage ways across the country and is addressing the issue of agriculture and food security by providing the enabling environment”, he said.
The Vice President congratulated the Awardees and charged them to continue their good works for the general progress of humanity.? The five distinguished Nigerian academicians who were the current recipients are Professor Andrew Jonathan Nok (Science), Professor Isidore O. Okpewho (Humanities), Professor Ebilegberi J. Alagoa (Humanities), Professor Francis S. Idachaba (Humanities) among others.