Nigeria’s economy and growth will pick up again, and even get much better than its previous standing, the Buhari Media Organization (BMO) has assured, noting that whatever the country is facing now is only transient and as a result of the shocks in the global economy.
Reacting to views it said it observed on the increased prices of some goods and services, the group in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, noted that “these increase, mostly marginal, were transient and only reflective of the global economic downturn”, but that Nigeria would soon find its feet and all these would be history.
“There is nothing to worry about. We just have to endure the little setbacks that the Covid-19 pandemic has occasioned, and keep hope alive. But one thing we can assure Nigerians is that this President will do all that is within his powers to ensure that the Nigerian people do not suffer.
“The global economy has been badly hit by the effects of the pandemic. With the disruption of supply chains, the prices of food has gone high across the world. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations had in fact highlighted that across the world, the prices of food had risen for the third consecutive month in August. It noted that this had been caused by a weaker dollar and higher demands.
“The challenge is not limited to Nigeria indeed,” BMO stated, “but what we are assured of is that we have a determined President who would not sit back and watch the effects of the pandemic devastate Nigerians.
“President Buhari has already ordered the release of food items from our reserves to cater to the high demand of grains across the country. We expect that this would cushion the effects of the high demand, and make these items available.
“Also, we are encouraged by the words of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) that over five million metric tonnes of rice would be produced during the dry season farming”.
The group also noted that the President Buhari administration had put in place several programmes, initiatives, and palliatives to cushion the harsh effects of the pandemic on businessmen, farmers, entrepreneurs, and the everyday Nigerian.
“The President Buhari administration has set aside billions of Naira in funds and accessible loans to Nigerians in various cadres and works of life, to provide needed funds for their businesses, livelihoods, and survival during the pandemic. We are aware that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been accessing these funds and palliatives, and continue to do so.
“But beyond these, the government will continue to drive its policies to ensure that every Nigerian is provided with the opportunity to improve his life and well-being. This pandemic would only be here a short while, we have seen evidently how Nigeria has weathered the storm despite the global meltdown. That has been a function of the Buhari administration’s strategic policies. Going forward, we strongly believe that things will only get better”, the statement added.