The Nigerian federal government has identified poverty as the No.1 challenge that must be confronted in 2010 and beyond.

The government made the promise in a New Year message to the nation by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

In the statement to newsrooms, Jonathan said though year 2009 recorded far reaching achievements in various areas, it threw up numerous challenges among which poverty is central.

"In many parts of the country, poverty remains a number one problem that must be confronted," the vice president said.

"True progress and development of the country can only begin when all our citizens, without exception, move out of a marginal existence," he added.

In achieving this, Jonathan said, the government would double its efforts in the areas of fiscal discipline, commitment to budgetary implementation, projects completion and cutting down on waste.

He emphasized the government's commitment to relentlessly pursue the national effort to combat corruption.

Jonathan said the federal government would place attention on job creation for the teeming youths roaming the streets of the country.

According to him, government would go beyond policy pronouncement and priotize attention on training and retraining in the areas of entrepreneurial development, skills acquisition and financial incentives to position youth to manage their own businesses.

The Vice President said policy measures would be announced to ensure that individuals who were directly affected by the fallouts of the banking reforms were spared undue hardship through job creation and economic stimulus programs.

He added that government would build on the peace achieved in the Niger Delta region through the amnesty program, by implementing programs relating to youth empowerment, social and economic development of the region.

He regretted the unpleasant experiences of religious intolerance and violence resulting in the loss of lives and property in some parts of the country.

He lamented the recent foiled terror attack on a US plane by a Nigerian which, he said, inflicted deep wounds on the psyche of the nation.

He thanked Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora, for their concern, prayers and best wishes, particularly on the health of President Umaru Yar'Adua who is recuperating in a Saudi hospital.

"I bring you all warm greetings and best wishes for the New Year on behalf of our dear President, His Excellency, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua," he said.

President Yar' Adua had been diagnosed of acute pericarditis (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart) in a hospital in Saudi Arabia.

(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2010)