President Buhari Says Yearnings Of Nigerians Have Been Met

President Muhammadu Buhari at his administration's final Ministerial Performance Review Retreat, on Monday, said high-impact projects have been implemented across the country to meet Nigerians' yearnings and aspirations.

The president highlighted remarkable progress made in agriculture, economy, infrastructure, security, health, and anti-corruption, among other areas, in his address to the Retreat organized to evaluate the level of progress made in the implementation of his Administration's Nine Priority Agenda.

He told retreat attendees and guests, including Keynote Speaker and Kenya's immediate past President, Uhuru Kenyatta, that over 3,800 kilometres of roads had been built across the country.

Buhari stated that new aircraft have been purchased for the Nigerian Air Force to aid in the fight against insurgency.

He also said that 38.7 million Nigerians have received full COVID-19 vaccinations, accounting for 35% of the total eligible population target for vaccination.

On infrastructure, the President said: ”In recognition of the importance of critical infrastructure in economic development and the quest of this administration to leave a lasting legacy, we have implemented high-impact projects across the length and breadth of the country that meets the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

”Some of the notable achievements include the completion of 326km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line and railway ancillary facilities; the completion of over 156.5km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway modernization project with extension to Lagos Port, Apapa.

”On road projects, this Administration has constructed 408Km of roads; 2,499Km of SUKUK roads and maintenance of 15,961Km of roads across the Country.

”Key among these projects is the construction of 1.9km 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States with 10.30km approach road; rehabilitation, construction and expansion of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan dual carriageway; the ongoing rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Road, among others.”

While emphasising that the Federal Government has maintained its commitment to infrastructure development for the past seven years, Buhari stated that over 941 kilometres of completed SUKUK road projects have been handed over nationwide.

He also revealed that under the Road Infrastructure Development & Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Policy, the federal government had begun the reconstruction of 21 selected federal roads totalling 1,804.6km.

According to him, the roads, which are being funded by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, are in addition to a similar existing collaboration with Messrs Dangote Industries Limited and other corporate organizations to improve the country's road infrastructure stock.