VOA标准英语10月-Nigerian President Pledges 'Constructive Engageme

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua says his two-pronged strategy to stem the violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta¹ is the best for the country. Yar'Adua also assured Nigerians that the economy was a on a 'strong footing," boosted by high international oil prices. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa has more from Abuja.
　

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua (file photo)

In a brief televised address to mark Nigeria's 48th independence anniversary, President Umaru Yar'Adua said he was committed to an infrastructural² development plan to address the grievances³ of the Delta's impoverished⁴ communities, while continuing negotiations⁵ with those he described as major stakeholders.

"In order to properly focus our efforts at fashioning out a durable⁶ solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta region, we have sustained constructive⁷ engagement with the major stakeholders. More critically, we have set up a Niger Delta Ministry⁸ to anchor in a holistic⁹ manner, the execution of the Niger Delta Development Master Plan," said President Yar'Adua. "We are confident that this is the way to go in meaningfully addressing the physical infrastructure¹⁰ and human capital development challenges which the region presents."

Mr. Yar'Adua has failed to pacify¹¹ the Niger Delta where attacks on oil industry targets continue unabated.

The government has announced several crackdowns on the violence. But the people of the Delta say they have seen many promises of development go unfulfilled, and the military response does not seem to be working.

Security forces have arrested hundreds of suspected insurgents¹² in military raids that began last week after militants¹³ ended a string of attacks and declared a ceasefire September 21.

Buoyed¹⁴ by huge revenues from high international oil prices, President Yar'Adua says the Nigerian economy is on a sound footing.

"Fellow Nigerians, our economy is on a strong footing with an average growth rate of about 6.9 percent, a single digit¹⁵ inflation rate, external reserves of about $63 billion, and the Naira appreciating steadily¹⁶ against the major currencies," he added. "This is a consequence of our policies aimed at maintaining relative stability and predictability in Nigeria's macro-economic environment."

Sworn in 15 months ago pledging reforms and respect for the rule of law, Mr. Yar'Adua has struggled to deliver on his promises, in terms of better roads, better security and, most of all, more electricity.

With a population three times as big as South Africa, Nigeria has about 20 times less electricity.

1 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

2 infrastructural   

adj.基础结构的基础设施的

参考例句：

• Must increase the investment dynamics unceasingly, strengthens the countryside infrastructural facilities. 要不断加大投入力度，加强农村基础设施建设。 来自互联网
• In the 1980s, India started with some infrastructural advantages over China. 1980年代，印度在某些基础设施方面优于中国。 来自互联网

3 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

7 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

9 holistic   

adj.从整体着眼的，全面的

参考例句：

• There is a fundamental ambiguity in the use of word "whole" in recent holistic literature.在近代的整体主义著作中，“整体”这个词的用法极其含混。
• In so far as historicism is technological,its approach is not piecemeal,but "holistic".仅就历史决定论是一种技术而论，它的方法不是渐进的，而是“整体主义的”。

10 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

11 pacify   

vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰

参考例句：

• He tried to pacify the protesters with promises of reform.他试图以改革的承诺安抚抗议者。
• He tried to pacify his creditors by repaying part of the money.他为安抚债权人偿还了部分借款。

12 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

13 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

14 buoyed   

v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• Buoyed by their win yesterday the team feel confident of further success. 在昨天胜利的鼓舞下，该队有信心再次获胜。
• His encouragement buoyed her up during that difficult period. 他的鼓励使她在那段困难时期恢复了乐观的情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 digit   

n.零到九的阿拉伯数字，手指，脚趾

参考例句：

• Her telephone number differs from mine by one digit.她的电话号码和我的只差一个数字。
• Many animals have five digits.许多动物有5趾。

16 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。