Politicians Focusing On 2019, But I’m Bothered With Security And Economy, Buhari Tells May

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday told the British Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, that though Nigerian politicians are currently preoccupied with the forthcoming general elections in 2019, he was more concerned with providing security and revamp the economy.

Speaking when he visited May at 10 Downing Street in London with the administration’s three-pronged focus resonating through the conversation between both leaders, the President is quoted as saying; “We campaigned on three major issues, to secure the country, revive the economy and fight corruption.”

According to the President, “We have elections next year, politicians are already preoccupied with the polls, but I am bothered more about security and the economy.”

He stressed that Nigeria and Britain have a long history of cooperation on several fronts, adding; “People ought to know how they arrived where they are, if they would move forward. It was a mistake for us to have stopped the teaching of history as a subject in schools, but we are returning it to the curriculum now.”

The President lauded British companies like Unilever, Cadbury, and many others, “who have stood with Nigeria through thick and thin. Even when we fought a Civil War, they never left.

“But like Oliver Twist, we ask for more investments. We are encouraging more British companies to come to Nigeria. We appreciate the support you have given in training and equipping our military, particularly in the war against insurgency, but we want to also continue to work with you on trade and investment.”

President Buhari also briefed Prime Minister May on the strides in agriculture, which he said has put Nigeria firmly on the road to food self-sufficiency, saying; “I am very pleased with the successes in agriculture.”

“We have cut rice importation by about 90 per cent, made lots of savings of foreign exchange, and generated employment. People had rushed to the cities to get oil money, at the expense of farming. But luckily, they are now going back to the farms. Even professionals are going back to the land. We are making steady progress on the road to food security”, he said

On education, the President explained that more investment was being made, because “people can look after themselves if well educated. In this age of technology, education is very important. We need well-staffed and well-equipped institutions to move into the next generation.”

Also on the table for discussion were issues of climate change and the environment with the President dwelling on the need for inter-basin water transfer from Congo Basin to Lake Chad.

According to him: “The Lake Chad is now about 10 per cent of its original size, and it is perhaps one of the reasons our youths dare both the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean, to get to Europe. But if there is inter-basin water transfer, about 40 million people in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, and other countries stand to benefit. I made the case during the Climate Change Summit in France. If Lake Chad is recharged, it will reduce the number of youths coming to Europe to increase social problems. We brought back about 4,000 people from Libya recently. Almost all of them were below 30, and Libya was not their final destination. They were headed to Europe.”

In her remarks, Prime Minister May said Britain would continue to work with Nigeria in the areas of training and equipping the military.

She was particular about abduction of young schoolgirls by Boko Haram, noting that Britain would continue to give Nigeria needed assistance.

The Prime Minister said the Buhari administration has “been making good progress on the economy,” and urged it to maintain the focus, despite approaching elections, and increase in political activities.

On education and climate change, May said: “Good grounding in education is good. It is important to equip young people for today’s world. It is also a good bastion and defence against modern slavery. The issue of the environment and climate change is very important, because of its impact on many countries in the Commonwealth. Stability at home is important, to curb illegal migration.”

The British Prime Minister, who praised President Buhari for doing so much to improve trade and business for Nigeria, said the time has also come for both countries to play active roles in boosting intra-Commonwealth trade.