Fellow Citizens,Welcome to the beginning of a New Year of the continuation of CHANGE in our beloved nation.
I
am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant
hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not
alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy
queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in
acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are
working to make things better.
When I presented myself to you as
a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a
leader who keeps his promises.
I wanted to be a leader who restores the people’s hope in those elected
to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and
enduring CHANGE.
I am still totally committed to being that kind
of leader. Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions
notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I
made to Nigerians during my election campaign.
In the past seven
months since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, my administration has
focused on laying the right foundation for the CHANGE you voted for
during our historic presidential election.
Nigerians will in due
course begin to enjoy the fruits of all our ongoing work. The effective
and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address
many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our
people.
One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the
northeast, have already begun to experience major CHANGE is in the war
on terror.
I commend our Armed Forces for significantly
curtailing the insurgency which has ravaged the northeast of Nigeria
over the past few years.
However, there is still a lot of work to
be done in the area of security. Our Armed Forces will maintain,
consolidate and build on their successes in the war against Boko Haram
and violent extremism.
This government will not consider the
matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and
normalcy restored to all parts of the country that have been adversely
affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Our crackdown on
corruption will continue to be vigorously undertaken. I urge the courts
to support our efforts and help in the recovery of stolen funds by
speedily concluding trials and showing that impunity no longer has a
place in our country.
There is much work to do in other areas as
well and I have charged all my ministers and other appointees to ensure
that Nigerians experience positive changes in their lives in 2016.
We must reduce our country’s reliance on oil. We must diversify our economy. And we must do all we can to promote job creation.
Our challenges are many but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken.
So too is our confidence in God.
I wish you all a very Happy New Year.
- President Muhammadu Buhari
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