President Muhammadu Buhari on
Monday assured Nigerians that the rising attacks on communities by “herdsmen
will soon be brought under control by security forces deployed to the
vulnerable areas,” across the country.
Buhari lamented that the
unfortunate attacks which had resulted in loss of lives and property, had
already “brought sorrow and hardship on many Nigerians, with the government
deeply affected.”
He spoke while receiving the
Board of Directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja and was contained in a statement signed and sent to by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina,
The president also said his
administration remains resolute and focused on delivering on the,
“three-pronged promises of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians,
halting the pillage of the economy by corrupt public officials, and creating
employment opportunities for the youths.”
Buhari said the initial economic
challenge posed by recession was already dwindling, with the “economy smarting
out and posting better results on falling inflation rates, higher foreign
reserve and better ranking on ease of doing business.
“If you look critically into the
2018 budget, we have already taken into account key issues of more stable
electricity, construction of roads and rails, and the airport concession’’ he
said.
He said his government will work
more to accelerate and increase momentum in agriculture, power, gas,
manufacturing and processing, while commending the Chinese government for its
support in improving infrastructure in Nigeria.
“We send our gratitude to the
Chinese for all their support to Nigeria. Since Independence, no country has
helped our country on infrastructural development like the Chinese. In some
projects, the Chinese help us with 85 per cent payment, and soft loans that
span 20 years. No country has done that for us,’’ he said.
He said the government will
continue to strengthen its relationship with the NESG, especially in
integrating its recommendations into policies that will improve the livelihood
of all Nigerians.
In his remark, the Chairman of
the NESG Board of Directors, Kyari Abba Bukar, commended the government for the
“pragmatic approach’’ in engaging with citizens of Niger Delta region which had
translated into steady rise in oil production.
“Your Excellency, we salute your
courage in providing support to the states that have had fiscal challenges. We
recognise that without the intervention of the Presidency, many state
governments would have been unable to pay salaries last year,’’ he said.
Bukar said the outlook on the
economy remained upwardly positive, projecting a 3.5 per cent GDP growth,
urging the President to pay more attention on herdsmen attacks, which could
reverse the gains recorded in the agricultural sector.
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