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President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated that his administration is poised to break all economic barriers and set Nigeria free from poverty.
The President said this before jetting out of the country to the united states of America yesterday, March 29 at the Eighth Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Abuja.
He said although some Nigerians had become disoriented and impatient, but the plan is basically to: diversify the economy, which Buhari said could no longer be a slogan but a necessity; and use agriculture to save foreign exchange and pull many out of poverty.
Buhari said his administration will continue to make substantial investments in human capital development.
He said: “The theme for this year could not have been better chosen. As the nation grapples with decades of dependence and profligacy of natural resources, and the coincidence of shrinking of oil prices, the chickens have indeed come home to roost.
“Diversifying the economy can no longer be a slogan. It has become a necessity. Economic growth cannot just be for the lucky few at the top, it has to be broad-based, for every Nigerian citizen, and a good place to start is with the agricultural sector.
“We face urgent challenges – tackling insecurity, creating jobs, addressing the country’s balance of payments and stimulating and sustaining national economic recovery.
“ But even as we deal with these issues, I know it is also important, and indeed critical to focus on the pressing challenge that confronts some millions of our men, women and children around the country — the injustice of hunger and the need for long-term food security.”
The president equally stated that Nigeria cannot continue to spend $11billion annually to import wheat, rice, sugar and fish stressing that his social policy programmes will go ahead despite austerity measures.
Meanwhile, the All Progressive Congress Urban-Rural Self Employment and Poverty Eradication Nationwide (APCURSEPEN) has revealed plans to raise N64 billion as a birthday gift for Bola Tinubu.
The group which claims political alliance with the former Lagos state governor and national leader of APC noted that the money will be used in helping less privileged Nigerians including physically challenged, internally displaced persons and the aged.
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