President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in New Delhi met chief executive officers (CEOs) of Indian firms with interest in Nigeria, promising his administration’s commitment to maintain macro-economic stability and improve investors’ confidence in the country.
He said that the fall in oil prices would not deter his government from creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Buhari also reaffirmed his administration’s resolute commitment to curbing corruption, plugging all loopholes in the public sector accounting and deploying available resources for the good of all Nigerians.
Addressing members of the Nigerian community in India, Buhari declared that the recovery of stolen funds and prosecution of persons who have been indicted for corrupt practices will also continue to be vigorously pursued.
Mr Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, cited the President in a statement saying that he expected the ongoing recoveries and prosecutions to serve as deterrents to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gains.
President Buhari assured the gathering that his administration fully recognises the devastating consequences of the illegal diversion of public resources meant for national development into private bank accounts, and is doing all within its power to stop such diversions.
He said, “The anti-corruption campaign will be ongoing for many years. We are committed to the enthronement of good governance that plugs the loopholes in public sector accounting, and the use of scarce resources for public good.
“We are determined to demonstrate exemplary leadership that will make our citizens change their ways in a manner that lays a solid foundation for reconstruction and development.
“I am confident that our approach to fighting corruption through value re-orientation, improved internal processes and systems and the rule of law, as well as enhancing the capacity of the various anti-corruption agencies and institutions will prove more enduring in addressing this evil.
“In the meantime, we will continue to prosecute those who have been indicted for corrupt practices and ensure that stolen funds are recovered, to serve as deterrents to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gains.”
The President told the Nigerian community that he is fully aware of the expectations of Nigerians who elected him on the platform of change, integrity, probity and accountability, and is therefore, doing his utmost best to meet those expectations.
He said, “I wish to assure you that we shall do our best to fix the economy, create jobs for the teeming population of our youths and make the home environment safe, secure and more attractive to Nigerians outside the country like your good selves.
“On the economy, our aim is to address the challenge of infrastructure in all its ramifications, especially power and transportation. We are seeking to create jobs through agriculture, mining, industrial value-addition and the promotion of small-scale enterprises.
“We are also taking steps to address criminality across the country. We are tackling the menace of terrorism posed by Boko Haram head-on and I am pleased to note that though sporadic attacks on soft targets have not stopped, the overall capacity of Boko Haram to hold territories and determine the course of the conflict has been severely degraded.
“If the current positive trends are maintained, we are confident that by the end of this year, we would have succeeded in permanently turning the tide against the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.”
-Leadership