News

I am bothered about economy, security and not politics, says Buhari in meeting with Theresa May

91

President Muhammadu Buhari Monday revealed that his administration is not bothered about politics, rather it is concerned about reviving the economy and how to address the security challenges faced by the country. 

“We campaigned on three major issues, to secure the country, revive the economy and fight corruption, he said during a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister, Theresa May at 10, Downing Street, London.

“We have elections next year, politicians are already preoccupied with the polls, but I am bothered more about security and the economy,” he stressed.

Recalling that Nigeria and Britain have a long history of cooperation on several fronts, President Buhari stated: “People ought to know how they arrived where they are, if they would move forward. It was a mistake for us to have stopped the teaching of history as a subject in schools, but we are returning it to the curriculum now.”

He commended British companies like Unilever, Cadbury, and many others, “who have stood with Nigeria through thick and thin. Even when we fought a Civil War, they never left.

“But like Oliver Twist, we ask for more investments. We are encouraging more British companies to come to Nigeria. We appreciate the support you have given in training and equipping our military, particularly in the war against insurgency, but we want to also continue to work with you on trade and investment.”

 President Buhari briefed Prime Minister May on the strides in agriculture, which he said has put Nigeria firmly on the road to food self-sufficiency.

“I am very pleased with the successes in agriculture,” he said, adding: “We have cut rice importation by about 90%, made lots of savings of foreign exchange, and generated employment. People had rushed to the cities to get oil money, at the expense of farming. But luckily, they are now going back to the farms. Even professionals are going back to the land. We are making steady progress on the road to food security.”

On education, President Buhari said more investment was being made, because “people can look after themselves if well educated. In this age of technology, education is very important. We need well-staffed and well-equipped institutions to move into the next generation.”

Climate change and environmental issues also came up for discussion, and President Buhari brought up the necessity of inter-basin water transfer from Congo Basin to Lake Chad.

According to him: “The Lake Chad is now about 10% of its original size, and it is perhaps one of the reasons our youths dare both the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean, to get to Europe. But if there is inter-basin water transfer, about 40 million people in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, and other countries stand to benefit. I made the case during the Climate Change Summit in France. If Lake Chad is recharged, it will reduce the number of youths coming to Europe to increase social problems. We brought back about 4,000 people from Libya recently. Almost all of them were below 30, and Libya was not their final destination. They were headed to Europe.”

Prime Minister May, in her remarks, said Britain would continue to work with Nigeria in the areas of training and equipping the military. 

She was particular about abduction of young schoolgirls by Boko Haram, noting that Britain would continue to give Nigeria needed assistance.

The Prime Minister said the Buhari administration has “been making good progress on the economy,” and urged it to maintain the focus, despite approaching elections, and increase in political activities.

On education and climate change, she declared: “Good grounding in education is good. It is important to equip young people for today’s world. It is also a good bastion and defence against modern slavery. The issue of the environment and climate change is very important, because of its impact on many countries in the Commonwealth. Stability at home is important, to curb illegal migration.”

Prime Minister May, who commended President Buhari for the much he has been doing on improving trade and business for Nigeria, noted that it was also time to boost intra-Commonwealth trade.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Niger’s ousted president is being denied food and electricity, says European Union

The European Union Friday said it had “deep concern” about the treatment...

Just in: Guinea-Bissau President, Embaló, Visits Tinubu In Lagos

The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, on Saturday paid a visit...

Max Air Acquires 16 Year Old Boeing 777-200

Kano based Max Air Limited has taken delivery of its first Boeing...

Fuel Subsidy: Need for Labour to tread softly, Softly 

The Labour Movement in Nigeria is up in arms against the Federal...

Between the dialectics and the benefits of petroleum subsidy removal

By Paul Njowusi For many years, successive administrations in Nigeria had embraced...

Inside Mele Kyari’s Gas Credentials

By Femi Soneye In March 2021 a few months before the Petroleum...

Nigeria, US Military Officers Confer on Techniques for Protecting Civilians

Through these engagements, the U.S. and Nigeria aim to further develop the...

2023: Ex-Zamfara Gov. Yari, Sen. Mafara quit APC, join PDP

Amid intractable crisis in Zamfara APC, two chieftains of the party in...

Controversial ASUU payment platform, UTAS, faces another integrity test — Ngige

  Labour and Employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, said on Tuesday that...

Former mayor of Kabul becomes refugee in US after fleeing Taliban

Former Kabul mayor Fazal Karim Aimaq had seen more than his share...

Lagos Govt. releases White Paper on #EndSARS Panel report

  Living up to its billing, the Lagos State Government says it...

Uzodimma says Imo state is safe, calls for prayers

  Governor Hope Uzodimma has reassured Imo indigenes that the state is...

Again, 2 more INEC offices torched in Southeast

The spate of attacks and destruction of the Independent National Electoral Commission...

Reps committee summon Akpabio over alleged corruption, mismanagement and unwarranted meddlesomeness.

    The House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Friday...

Nigeria sees highest one-day increase in coronavirus cases since pandemic began

  The number of positive coronavirus cases continued to climb in Nigeria...

Total coronavirus cases in Nigeria exceed 9,000

  The total number of novel coronavirus infection cases reported so far...

16 new COVID-19 deaths, over 270 new cases in Nigeria Tuesday

  COVID-19 related deaths rose by double digits Tuesday, and cases to...

Coronavirus: Nigeria’s Death Toll At 200 As Cases Nationally Pass 6,650

  The Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC,  said Wednesday night that...