Presidential Spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, has expressed strong confidence in the ability of the Buhari administration to end what has become annual lamentations by Nigerians on Independence Day.

As Nigeria celebrated 56 years of its independence from Britain yesterday, Adesina was one of the guests of Channels Television’s special programme ‘Nigeria @ 56: Recursive – Resilient – Rising’.

Several prominent Nigerians discussed the journey of Nigeria so far and provided recommendations for the nation, moving forward.

Faced with its worst economic crisis in decades, it has been an avalanche of lamentations from Nigerians with many saying there is nothing to celebrate.

As a renowned journalist, Mr Adesina admitted that every October 1, he also in the past joined many other Nigerians to lament about the problems in the country as this has become a regular feature for decades.

But since joining the “progressive minded government” of Muhammadu Buhari, he has been able to see a situation where things are not as bad as they were in the past.

“We lamented in the past because we didn’t see hope in the horizon,” he said.

He referred to President Muhammadu Buhari’s Independence Day broadcast as one that showed that indeed Nigeria was rising from its problems.

Faced with the fact that just like in the past, Nigerians are still lamenting at 56, Adesina explained that the lamentations by Nigerians this time would only be because they do not have enough information about what government is doing.

He said: “I can tell you that as day follows the night, that lamentation will end within the lifespan of this administration. Before it is 2019, we will have a lot of cause to rejoice.”

Corruption

Mr Adesina’s optimism was in contrast to what many Nigerians are feeling as Nigeria clocks 56 and Channels TV sought to know the factors responsible for his confidence.

He explained that Nigeria has always had fundamental problems that have lasted for a long time and the manner in which the current administration has been tackling these issues gives him confidence that their days were numbered.

He highlighted corruption as one of those major factors that have stunted the growth of Nigeria over the years.

“We know that this problem is being tackled headlong and by the time corruption is tackled; if it cannot be eradicated but is controlled, you will have more resources for development.

“Therefore, lamentations will not continue to be the order of the day in the country.”

Hunger

Mr Adesina also highlighted efforts being made by the federal government to tackle the problem of hunger and ensure food security in the country.

“When you remove lack of food from the troubles a man has, then his troubles are limited. Nigeria is on the way to being able to feed herself.

“The president said it in his broadcast and the groundwork has been laid and in another two years – by 2018, Nigeria will not have any course to import any type of grains again.

“It was said in that broadcast that we spend two billion dollars to import rice. That money can be freed for other developmental areas.”

He added that for the first time in decades, Nigeria’s promise of moving away from being a mono-economy would be fulfilled by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

•Sourced from Channels TV. Photo shows Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina.

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