President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said his administration will not allow temporary problems divert it from the ultimate goal of tackling the country’s salient challenges.
Buhari said this in his independence day address in commemoration of the country’s 56th anniversary on Saturday.
Buhari urged Nigerians to pray for the country as well as its founding fathers “without whose efforts and toil we would not reap the bounties of today”.
He commended Nigerians for their patience steadfastness and perseverance in the face of challenges and harsh economy.
The President assured Nigerians that his administration is aware of the effects of the recession on them and has began taking steps to palliate them.
Buhari also said his administration will not allow temporary problems divert its attention from the country’s salient challenges- security, corruption, economy, unemployment and poverty which he promised to tackle.
He said,” 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.”
He continued, “But let me say to all Nigerians today, I ran for office four times to make the point that we can rule this nation with honesty and transparency, that we can stop the stealing of Nigeria’s resources so that the resources could be used to provide jobs for our young people, security, infrastructure for commerce, education and healthcare.
“I ran for office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity and abundance for all. I remain resolutely committed to this objective.
“I believe that this recession will not last.
“Temporary problems should not blind or divert us from the corrective course this government has charted for our nation. We have identified the country’s salient problems and we are working hard at lasting solutions.
“To re-cap what I have been saying since the inception of this administration, our problems are security, corruption and the economy, especially unemployment and the alarming level of poverty.”
Buhari also listed some of his achievements of the administration so far, especially in terms of security.
He thanked the Nigerian Army, Air Force and other security agencies as well as vigilante group for their success in decimating terrorist group, Boko Haram.
“On Security, we have made progress. Boko Haram was defeated by last December – only resorting to cowardly attacks on soft targets, killing innocent men, women and children.
“Nigerians should thank our gallant men of the Armed Forces and Police for rescuing large areas of the country captured by insurgents. Now, residents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, as well as several neighbouring states go about their daily business in relative safety. People can go to mosques, churches, market places in reasonable safety.
“Commuters can travel between cities, towns and villages without fear. Credit for this remarkable turn-round should go to our Armed Forces, the Police, various sponsored and private vigilante groups, the local traditional leaders. Security is a top to bottom concern and responsibility.
“Besides Boko Haram, we are confronting other long-running security issues, namely herdsmen vs farmers, cattle rustling, kidnappings. This Administration is firmly resolved to tackle these challenges and to defeat them,” he said.
