…says ‘we’re doing our best on security, economy’
President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerians to show more understanding regarding the current security situation in the country.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Thursday that the President made the appeal while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after observing the Eid prayers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari was quoted in the statement titled, ‘President Buhari pledges action against bandits’ threat to national food security’ to have said, “I expect Nigerians to be more understanding on the issues involved, looking at time and available resources.
“For example, when we came in, in the North East, 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 also appealed to the nation’s elite to show a better appreciation of the challenges confronting the country.
He said, “The elite should make the attempt to understand the military. If we order for weapons and armored vehicles, it takes time for the manufacturer.
“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,” the President explained.
The President pledged that his administration would use all available resources and manpower to deal with bandits inhibiting to access to farms and food production in the coming farming season.
Buhari assured that the the menace of bandits and kidnappers would be addressed to guarantee food security across the country.
Expressing hope for a good rainy season this year, the President said, “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. 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.”
Explaining ongoing efforts to tackle the security situation in the country by the administration, Buhari drew attention to the series of long meetings held in recent weeks, chaired by him, saying that a part of resolutions had been made public by the National Security Adviser and the others kept secret.
“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 in 2015, what state we are today both on security and the economy and we are doing our best,” he said.
He also commended the National Assembly for its support, saying that “the National Assembly is cooperating very well. Within the resources available, they are certainly giving us priority on our (military) requests.”
The President and members of his family were joined for the Eid at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa by the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, cabinet members and the heads of security and intelligence agencies.