The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has hailed what he described as the ringing global endorsement which President Muhammadu Buhari received from world leaders during his recent trip to the US for the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.
The minister in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the President. He said it was particularly delightful to hear from world leaders that President Buhari’s determined and committed leadership as well as his integrity have given Nigeria a positive image in the comity of nations.
He said the global community’s appreciation of the giant strides that have been made by President Buhari’s administration in fighting terrorism and corruption, as well as in deftly managing the nation’s economy at a time of global economic downturn, is an indication that the administration is on course in its quest to ensure a better life for the people.
The minister said: “These three areas (economy, security and the fight against corruption) are the priorities of the Buhari’s Administration, and its efforts have not gone unnoticed globally, despite the attempts by naysayers to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians. World leaders including US President Barrack Obama, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, French President Francois Hollande and Switzerland’s President Johann Schneider-Ammann all took turns to extol President Buhari’s leadership.
“This should be a source of hope and pride to Nigerians, who have borne the brunt of the difficulties associated with the current economic downturn as well as the country’s negative global image in the past. While thanking Nigerians for their perseverance, there is no doubt that by continuing to give their unalloyed support to the President, they will be ensuring that these tough times will not last.”
Alhaji Mohammed said the fact that the President was able to highlight and seek a global rallying point on critical issues during his trip will have a positive effect on the country.
“The President sent ‘a clear and direct message’ to world leaders on such issues as poverty, climate change, terrorism, plight of IDPs arising from Boko Haram activities, diversification of the economy and the creation of enabling environment for Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria.
“The timing of the President’s message and the platform in which he highlighted those issues could not have been more apt, and this will undoubtedly complement the Administration’s efforts at tackling those key issues,” the minister said.
He also expressed the optimism that the country will soon begin to reap the benefits of the US-Africa Business Forum and the meeting with top Nigerians professionals, which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.