Buhari gives self pass mark on Nigerian economy

President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded his handling of Nigeria’s economy. The president said so during Iftar with select politicians and government officials on Tuesday night.

Femi Adesina, Buhari’s special adviser on media, quoted Buhari as saying to his audience that his administration has done better than his predecessors regarding the economy.

‘‘No administration has done as much as we have done in the creation of a climate best suited for business, big and small, to thrive.

‘‘The ease of doing business index that is globally recognised has acknowledged that the ease with which business is carried out in the country has never been better than it is today. We will continue to make it better,” Adesina said in the statement he ascribed to President Buhari.

He also said the president urged the private sector to complement the government’s effort in poverty reduction and job creation for the young people.

Buhari also urged all political parties in Nigeria to keep elections and election-related differences aside and join his regime in fighting bandits and other criminals ravaging the country.

‘‘Without mass, popular support for our hard-working Armed Forces, it will take us much longer to finish off the successful war we are waging against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping,” explained Mr Buhari. “Our country must be kept safe for progress and prosperity to be entrenched. I look forward to seeing the reflection of this spirit in the relationship between the parties and the government, especially as the electioneering season will soon be on us.”

Buhari said his party, the APC, had through its successful National Working Committee meeting shown it was committed to democratic principles at all levels.

‘‘Today, we can proudly say that we have a political system that allows political parties of all views and persuasions, reflecting the diversity of our nation, to co-exist, and contest elections at all levels of government without fear or institutional bias and pressure,” noted Mr Buhari.

(NAN)