President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed
Nigerians to the year 2016, a year of the
continuation of ‘CHANGE’.
Buhari in his New Year message said he is
aware of the hardship that Nigerians are going
through, noting that, he is not alienated from
their sufferings.
Read full statement below:
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.
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