Religious leaders in Nigeria should “keep calming the people” by telling them things will not always be this bad but will improve, President Muhammadu Buhari pleaded with the men of God on Thursday, promising that he and his administration were “trying to solve problems of poverty, unemployment and insecurity bedeviling the country.”
At a meeting with the Council of Abuja Imams at the State House on Thursday, Mr. Buhari said his administration chose to give priority to agriculture to create jobs for the unemployed and give the country food security.
He stressed that although efforts had begun to turn around the sector, there is a bigger plan for the provision of fertilisers, insecticides and land preparations that will be starting next year.
The President requested state governments and community leaders across the country to organise the population into cooperative societies, stressing that “extension services, not money will be provided.”
Mr. Buhari, a Muslim from Katsina state, also addressed the religious leaders on the efforts to improve power supply in the country with on-going efforts to bring foreign investment from China and some friendly countries that indicated willingness in developing the proposed Mambila and other hydro-electric power projects in the country.
President Buhari assured that the steps the government was carefully taking on the crisis situation in the Niger Delta would lead to long term peace and stabilise the region.
On the war against corruption and the Boko Haram terrorism, the President said his government would remain resolute and relentless. “We have no plan to humiliate or embarrass anyone through these actions. We are merely interested in instituting justice and fairness for all,” the President assured.
He reiterated that whoever was caught as having stolen from the public will be forced to return the loot to the treasury.
The Chairman of Abuja Council of Imams, Dr. Tajudeen Mohammed Bello Adigun on behalf of the delegation commended the efforts of the Buhari administration in the war against corruption and terrorism, according to a statement by President Buhari’s spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu.
He also reminded Mr. Buhari about problems facing the economy, health services, education and unemployment, Mr. Shehu said.