President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigerians that he is committed to ensuring that the forthcoming general elections are conducted peacefully.

He gave the assurance in response to a speech by a delegation of Imams and senior Islamic scholars from the 36 states of the Federation who visited him on Friday at the State House in Abuja.

“What I want to assure Nigerians is that I will continue to pressure the police and other agencies to do their best to ensure a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide, Mr Garba Shehu.

As election campaigns begin next week, he stated the determination of his determination to lay a foundation for free, fair and credible elections in the country.

President Buhari noted that a number of measures put in place have seen the gradual improvement of elections, as in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States, from what he described as “dismal and unacceptable levels witnessed in Rivers and Kogi states.”

On the issue of security raised by the religious group, he said he would continue to nudge security agencies to find lasting solutions to the challenges.

The President, however, stressed the need for community and religious leaders to play a part in identifying criminals in their midst.

He thanked the Muslim religious leaders for recognising the various achievements of his administration especially, in dealing with security, fighting corruption, and progress in agriculture.

“I am not satisfied with the reporting of agriculture,” said President Buhari who added, “Millions of our citizens have returned to the farms with many leaving white collar jobs for opportunities in agriculture.”

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr Khalid Aliyu, who is the Secretary-General of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam, commended the President’s achievements in key areas of his campaign in 2015 – security, corruption, and the economy.

He said, “So far, so good, the government has gone a long way in meeting its promises.”

•Sourced from a Channels TV report

•President Buhari receives in audience Imams and Senior Islamic Scholars from all states of the Federation at the State House on November 16, 2018.

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