Nigeria on the way to economic recovery- Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that his administration is doing everything in its powers to get the country out of recession as quickly as possible. The president said this in a nationwide broadcast to mark the country’s 56th Independence Anniversary on Saturday.
Buhari, who acknowledged the negative impact of the recession in many individuals and families was real, gave an assurance that the situation would not last long. He commended all Nigerians for making “incredible sacrifices.’’
“I know that uppermost in your minds today is the economic crisis. “The recession for many individuals and families is real. “For some, it means not being able to pay school fees, for others it’s not being able to afford the high cost of food (rice and millet) or the high cost of local or international travel, and for many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after graduating from university or polytechnic.
“I know how difficult things are and how rough business is. “All my adult life I have always earned a salary and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices,’’ the president said.
He reassured Nigerians that he would continue to ensure honesty and transparency in governance and stop the stealing of Nigeria’s resources. The President said the steps would ensure provision of qualitative healthcare, security, education, infrastructure for commerce and additional jobs for the youth. “I ran for office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity and abundance for all.
Food adequacy
Still in his Independence Day speech, Buhari said that Nigeria will be self sufficient in the production of food, such as rice, millet, sorghum, maize, soybean by 2019.
The president said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have been mobilised to achieve the target through the Anchor Borrowers Scheme.
He said through the scheme, production of the staple crops is on the increase in 13 states and that Kebbi alone is expected to produce one million tonnes of rice this year. Buhari said Nigeria spends two billion dollars on rice importation stressing the need for the country to be self sufficient in staple crop production.
Niger Delta militant
Disturbed by the increasing activities of the Niger Delta who have been blowing up oil and gas installations in the Niger-Delta, the President reiterated his threat to militants. He said: A new insurgency has reared up its head in the shape of blowing up gas and oil pipelines by groups of Niger Delta Militants. This Administration will not allow these mindless groups to hold the country to ransom.
“What sense is there to damage a gas line as a result of which many towns in the country including their own town or village is put in darkness as a result? What logic is there in blowing up an export pipeline and as a result income to your state and local governments and consequently their ability to provide services to your own people is reduced?
“No group can unlawfully challenge the authority of the Federal Government and succeed. Our Administration is fully sympathetic to the plight of the good people of Niger Delta and we are in touch with the State Governments and leaderships of the region. It is known that the clean-up of the Ogoniland has started. Infrastructural projects financed by the Federal Government and post amnesty programme financing will continue.
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