The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari has saved Nigeria from economic crisis and prevented the economy from getting worse than it would have been.Mohammed said this at the All Nigerian Editors Conference 2016 in Port Harcourt on Thursday, according to a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeyemi.
While making allusions to Venezuela, an oil-rich South American country which now depends on neighbouring Columbia for essential commodities, Mohammed said Nigeria which also failed to save during the oil boom, could have suffered the same fate if not for Buhari’s leadership skills.
He said, “We must give hope to our people, while also giving encouragement to those who are working non-stop to revamp our economy. In one country that failed to save for the rainy day like Nigeria, citizens are now having to cross to neighbouring countries to get essential commodities.
“The only reason we have averted such fate here is the committed, honest and disciplined leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, the prudent management of the little resources that are accruing to the country now, thanks to the Treasury Single Account, the unrelenting war against corruption, the rooting out of ghost workers and the increasing emphasis on agriculture that is sure to massively reduce our scandalously high food imports in a short while.”
The minister said for several years the price of oil stood at $100 and above but the government of the day refused to save for the rainy day.
He said other oil-rich nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Angola had saved for the rainy day and that was why their economies were still buoyant.
Mohammed added, “Nigeria has nothing to rely on to cushion the effects of the lost earnings. Many other oil-producing countries and fellow OPEC members are faring better, because they saved for the rainy day. Saudi Arabia, with about one fifth of Nigeria’s population, has in foreign reserves about $600bn (which is 23 times what Nigeria has in foreign reserves).
“United Arab Emirates, with less than 10 million people, has $75bn in foreign reserves. Qatar, with 2.4 million people, has $36bn in foreign reserves. Even Angola, with just 24 million people, has about $25bn in foreign reserves.”
Earlier, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, had while declaring open the conference, accused the media of being involved in a conspiracy of silence while the people of the state were denied legitimate representation at the National Assembly.
Wike said, “The 8th National Assembly is well into the second year of its four-year tenure without any Rivers State representative in the Senate.
“We have only a fraction of Rivers representatives in the House of Representatives. Yet, the press is maintaining conspiratorial silence over the continuing repression and deliberate denial of the state’s constitutional right to full and effective representation at the National Assembly.
“The question is: can Rivers State legitimately be bound by legislation or resolutions from the 8th National Assembly passed without our representation and input? I would like to leave you with some thoughts about the values we share – thoughts about our democracy, good governance and public accountability. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Experts in story telling if u have the avenue to speak to nigerians one hundred times more you still say the samething,only creating excuse for their anticipated failure
ReplyDeleteThis foolish old man man keep irritating Nigerians with stupid lies. So Nigeria is out of the wood and thus enjoying. I am sorry for this country.This is one of those who will claim to be elderly statesman kwo?
ReplyDeleteAnother lie from Lai Mohammed
ReplyDeleteIs this man normal ? Dollar is 380 and he is talking trash
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised and disappointed by some of our comments. Although one may not like his comment in the past. Lai Muhammed is right this time around. Okonjo-iweala has even confirmed it.
ReplyDeleteLet us face it, Nigeria would have fared worse if PDP were still in power. I have no particular sympathy for APC. They have bailed us all out somehow from the worst.
ReplyDeleteAPCeee CHANGE!!!!
ReplyDeleteNnaa this man is saying the truth. Buhari's has really saved this country a lot. Take it or leave it.
ReplyDeletei have never seen a man who knows how to tell lies and rubb it on the faces of people as though we are brainless. Lai Mohammed, the man with bag of lies.
ReplyDeleteThis man, the fact that you are minister of information does not give you the right to be telling lies to Nigerians all the time.
ReplyDeleteThis man should visit a psychiatric hospital.
ReplyDeleteMost of you talking do not understand what God has done for this nation by allowing Buhari to win. Our country would have worse more than Venesuella. Please let us be adult in our thinking
ReplyDeleteNigerians be wise. Stop listening to the people who cannot see any action this government is doing to salvage us from the bad position created by PDP.
ReplyDeleteMost of us are so ethnocentric that we hardly see beyond our noses. Whether Lai Mohammed is saying the truth or not, the fact remains to the liberals, that Buhari is doing a messianic work-one that our brothers ignored.
ReplyDeleteMessianic work indeed. By his appointments of his relations and his people to vital positions. Some of you are talking this way because you are not close to the masses. You save the economy and kill the people, what type of gain is that? Look at the cost of commodities with no increase in salaries. Bag of rice N22000 against N9000. The worst is yet to come. Let Lai still be lying as if it is all over. We have just started.
DeleteWhat is this two demented fools talking about Barack Obama inherited the worst economy in the history of USA he did not for one day pass blame to the republican, and revive US Economy. This APC Govt lack direction and vision. If you doesn't have solution you shouldn't make matter worst either. just throw in the towel
ReplyDeleteThis government has not impacted positively on the average Nigerians. The policies are inflicting untold hardship on the citizenry.Buhari could not assemble experts in his economic team. Check the Calibre of people in the government and know whether anything good will come out of it.Only a few know what they are doing. Others are simply occupying seats in the government without any initiative, lacking vision and mission.
ReplyDeleteHis name is Lie muhammed, as in Lie. so his words defines his name.
ReplyDelete