NIGERIA IN TROUBLE UNDER ME – BUHARI FINALLY ADMITS
NIGERIA
IN TROUBLE UNDER ME – BUHARI FINALLY ADMITS
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday admitted that Nigeria has
been turbulent since he came on board in 2015.
The president made this comment while inaugurating the Food
Security Council chaired by him.
At the inauguration, the president spoke about Nigeria’s “very
turbulent” journey in the past three years, the period of his administration.
Read the full speech below.
“Two weeks ago, I announced my intention to establish and chair a
presidential level committee that focuses on food security, I am happy that
today it has become a reality.
“Nigeria’s journey in the last three (3) years, has been a very
turbulent one. The country’s need for critical job creating sectors which has
been ignored for decades is now beginning to yield results.
“We introduced the National Social Investment Programmes targeting
millions of Nigerians who are living from hand to mouth.
“We launched agricultural programmes focusing on import
substitution, job creation and rural development thereby bringing
socio-economic transformation to the millions of citizens living in some of the
most remote rural parts of our country.
“We commenced the long term Pollution Remediation Projects in the
Niger Delta with the hope of restoring dignity and normalcy to the millions of
Nigerians impacted by decades of pollution in their communities. Fishing and
farming will resume once blighted areas are rehabilitated.
“We intensified our participation in the Lake Chad Basin
Commission with the goal of reversing the shrinkage of the lake, which impacts
the livelihoods of over 45 million farmers, herdsmen and fishermen in the LCBC
countries.
“We issued the first ever green bond that will act as a catalyst
for investments in renewable energy and afforestation projects. This was
oversubscribed, sharing market confidence in the country and our government.
“We established the Agro Rangers Unit within the Nigeria Security
and Civil Defence Corps to protect the billions of naira of investments
recorded in Nigeria’s agricultural sector across the country.
“We continued to equip the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency to fight maritime criminals such as pirates
and sea robbers who adversely impact offshore and inland fishing activities in
our waters.
“These programmes and many more, have started yielding results and
if sustained, will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians across the
country.
“We are well aware that the full results will not be felt or seen
overnight. The journey is long. It is therefore our collective duty to ensure
the actual and potential positive impacts of these programmes are sustained,
improved and expanded.
“A key mandate of the Food Security Council is to continuously
assess and enhance these infant, but impactful programmes, thereby guaranteeing
they achieve their full potential.
“We shall also develop new programmes and projects that will
protect and indeed, create more jobs in farming, fisheries, animal husbandry
and forestry.
“As we all know, land is use for farming, grazing and forestry,
Water is used for irrigation, livestock sustenance and fishing. Therefore, any
strategy for land and water management must take into account the
interconnectivity of all these key sectors to ensure equity and sustainability.
“We will also not lose sight of the other issues that will impact
our food production ambitions such as; Population growth, Urbanisation,
IndustrialisationRural Infrastructure Development andClimate Change.
“These factors will also stress and stretch our land and water
resources. This means we must invest in research and development to enhance
yields and outputs.
“Moreover, we are not insulated from Global and Regional events.
Accordingly we develop local programs, but not lose sight of events from a far
and their impact on us. Specifically, issues such as smuggling and dumping,
which is our responsibility to ensure we develop and enforce strategies to
protect Nigeria from these illegal and unhealthy imports.
“The Council includes Governors representing the six (6)
geopolitical zones. Some geopolitical zones have similar Eco climatic
conditions. The council is therefore a platform to further enhance the
collaboration between the federal and state governments. We shall share success
stories and collaborate to address common threats.
“We will also engage key stakeholders representing the core
sectors of the Food Value Chain. Regular consultations will be held with investors,
development partners, financiers, academia and our friends and allies abroad.
“ Our deliberations will look into all the issues and our
decisions will be implementable and impactful. We shall stay focused, first and
foremost on securing our food requirements and employment for our people,
especially the youth. We shall feed ourselves and build an inclusive Nigeria
for ourselves and for future generations.”
