PRESIDENT Buhari says the Nigerian economy and security better now than it was in 2015.
Buhari stated this while addressing reporters after observing the Eid-il-Fitri prayers at the State House in Abuja yesterday.
He said his administration would use all available resources and manpower in dealing with bandits to ensure that farmers returned to their farms and boost food security for the country and for export.
“The law enforcement agencies are working hard to regain confidence against bandits so that we can go back to the land. This is very important,” he said.
“This is what the agencies are busy doing right now. We want people to go back to the land so that we can get enough food for the country and even export.
“With the resources and manpower available to us, we are working very hard. We are hoping Nigerians will understand the problem. Nigerians know at what stage we came in 2015, what state we are today both on security and the economy and we are doing our best.”
He commended the National Assembly for its support, saying, “it is cooperating very well. Within the resources available, they are certainly giving us priority on our (military) requests.”
He pleaded with the country’s elite to show understanding as his administration was working hard with available resources at its disposal to address insecurity in the country.
He said the military were making efforts to tackle the situation, but it would take a ‘very long process’ to achieve the desired results. The elite, he said, should make the attempt to understand the military.
“If we order weapons and armored vehicles, it takes time for the manufacturers.
“It takes time to ship them, and when brought here eventually, they are taken to training institutions, train the trainers before sending them to the field. This is a very long process. I expect Nigerians to be more understanding of the issues involved, looking at the time and available resources.
“For example, when we came in, in the Northeast, ask people in Adamawa and Borno States and the South-South in terms of security.
“Without security, you can’t do anything. Our big surprise and disappointment is what is happening in the North-West and we are dealing with it,” he said.
