By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has again assured Nigerians that the country will survive and thrive in spite the ongoing socio-economic challenges facing the it.

He said the challenges would be faced head-on with renewed determination and urgency required.

Making this known while addressing the nation via a New Year broadcast in on Friday in Abuja the president maintained that as elected President and Commander-in-Chief he had no option but  to ensure the safety of lives and property of all citizens.

He also pledged to continue to listen to viable advice and suggestions on how best to address these challenges for the nation’s progress.

He said: “In the midst of all these challenges, I had initially pledged that as your elected President and Commander-in-Chief, I would ensure that these ongoing challenges will be faced head-on with renewed determination and with all the appropriateness and urgency required.

“Your voices have been heard and we would continue to listen to you, and all the key stakeholders who are committed to the unity of Nigeria to ensure that every region of this nation is safe for us all, while guaranteeing that the future is also secure for the coming generation.’’

The president, who saluted the courage of the nation’s youth, reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to securing the future of the youth.

He noted with delight that many of the young people had been excelling in various spheres of life including sports, entertainment, information and communication technology, commerce and globally recognised as achievers.

“I wish to also use this occasion of New Year to reaffirm my commitment to the people of Nigeria, especially the youth who need our collective encouragement and support.  In securing this nation we need to secure the future of our youth.

“Our young people are our most valuable natural resource, at home and abroad. Their ingenuity, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is evident to all.

“Many of our young people are excelling in various spheres of life including sports, entertainment, information and communication technology, commerce and are globally recognized as achievers.

“As a Government we are committed to actively engaging with the creative energies of our young people,’’ he said.

Buhari said the executive arm would continue to partner with the legislature to develop an enabling environment to turn the youths passions into ideas that could be supported, groomed and scaled across the country.

According to him, this will create vast opportunities in fintech, agriculture, business process startups and in the entertainment industry.

“The year 2021 will indeed be a year where we will work to reinforce the hopes of fellow Nigerians in the vision of a united and progressive Nigeria,’’ he further emphasised.

He said the administration would continue focusing on delivering key strategic priorities under its “SEA”  — Security, Economy and Anti-Corruption — Agenda.

He, however, urged the citizens as they celebrate the new year 2021 to also “acknowledge the passing away of our brothers and sisters who did not make it into this New Year.  (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the commitment of his administration to keep Nigerians safe from the resurgence of Coronavirus pandemic.

In a New Year broadcast on Friday in Abuja, the president stated that the Federal Government had completed arrangements to procure and distribute the COVID-19 vaccines to citizens.

He, however, enjoined Nigerians to always observe the COVID-19 prevention protocols to check the second wave of the deadly virus in the country.

He said: ”Keeping our country on a forward march is a duty which we all have and share.

”In this regard, keeping our country safe from a resurgent cycle of COVID-19 as this administration finalises its plans to procure and efficiently and effectively distribute the COVID-19 vaccines.

”I urge you all fellow citizens to observe strict COVID-19 prevention protocols.”

On the anti-corruption drive of his administration, Buhari noted that the government had recorded substantial gains so far and this year, the government would be more committed to continuing along the path of eradicating corruption.

He said this would be achieved through collaboration with all the arms of government to effectively prosecute the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the country.

The president also expressed the readiness of the executive arm to continue working with the legislature to enact laws that would strengthen the fight against corruption.

”We would also be looking at reviewing some of our laws which would ensure that this fight is more effective.

”On the part of the executive, we would ensure the diligent and timely prosecution of corruption cases, while appealing to the judiciary to ensure that corruption cases are dispensed with expeditiously.

”The persistence of various forms of violence has meant that in the most affected parts of the country, the fabric of inter-communal harmony woven through years of investment of effort at building trust, mutual respect, and harmony has been threatened.”

According to him, insecurity has direct repercussions on national economic stability, growth, and development, adding that it is setting the Nation back at critical points through the destruction of public and private investments.

He noted with serious concern that in parts of the country chronic poverty, social exclusion and disillusionment among sections of the youth were already a problem.

He observed that these cycles of violence that have been unleashed by mindless groups have thwarted the efforts of government to undertake the social policy and associated investments necessary for huge difference in the citizens quality of life.

”As a people, we have shown admirable resilience in the face of every adversity, an unmatched capacity to recover speedily from every setback, an unparalleled generosity of spirit when we resolve our differences, and a constant readiness to invest faith and hope in the destiny we share as a united country built on the diversity of its peoples.

”It is these attributes that underpin the Nigerian spirit of “can do, will do” that gives me hope that we shall yet get to our destination and fulfill our calling together, especially with the solid resolutions we are setting in this new year.

”As your elected President, my pledge to you is the same as it has always been; I will play my part fully and without fear or favour.

”I invite all of us to do the same. It is what we owe to the founding generation of our beloved country and also to the coming generation. It is what we desire for national prosperity for all demands.

”Long Live the Nigerian spirit of oneness, togetherness, and unity. Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

”I wish you a Happy and prosperous New Year.” the president said. (NAN)