President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the country has the people and resources to overcome the country’s current economic recession.
The president said this yesterday while receiving the president of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina in Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This was contained in a statement sign by the Senior Special Adviser to the president on media, Femi Adesina.
President Buhari said “We’ve resources to surmount recession President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Nigeria has the people and the resources to surmount her economic problems.”
“God has given us people and resources. It will take hard work on our part, but we will make it.
We will get out of our problems. We are determined to produce what we eat, and stop importation. We will also chase those who stole, and get them to refund,”
He commended the African Development Bank for the support it is given to the country and promised that “We will not let you down. Your country won’t disappoint you.”
The statement said the African Development Bank President thanked President Buhari for supporting him to run for the bank’s presidency which makes him the first Nigerian to occupy such since its establishment.
Adesina also extolled President Buhari for his achievement in securing the country, by uprooting the insurgents in the northeast, stressing that “there can be no development without adequate security.”
He described the economic policies of this administration as“bold, tough, uncomfortable, but right,” noting that Nigeria will soon benefit from them very soon.
“You can count on the ADB as a true friend of Nigeria. You should support massive investment in infrastructure, and we are here to also support. Closing the infrastructure deficit will enable growth, and create employment. Nigeria is too big to fail,” he said.
He revealed the plans of African Development Bank has for Nigeria in different areas of the economy which include $1 billion as budget support, $300 million to empower 185,000 youths, $250 million for renovation of northeast ravaged by insurgency, separate $1 million grant take care of the internally displaced persons, $300 million specifically for the transformation of Abuja, $200 million for power sector, among others.
On anti-corruption, Dr. Adesina expressed his delight with what he described as “President Buhari’s push on anti-corruption, and stance on governance,” which according to him is the hallmark institutional development.
He promised that AFDB will support President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade with $4.8 million as grant, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) getting $2 million, and $1 million to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). “You can always count on my support, and that of the ADB,” Adesina concluded.
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