Saudi-based Nigerians urge support for Buhari’s economic reforms

The need to support the current administration’s efforts to revive the economy was stressed at the weekend as Nigerians living in Saudi Arabia marked the country’s 56th independence anniversary.

At the dinner organised in honour of the National Media Team for the just-concluded 2016 hajj by the management of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) at its office in Makkah, speakers lauded the efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, especially the crusade against graft. They noted that such efforts might not yield the desired results unless Nigerians support them.

The Consul-General of the Nigerian Embassy in Jeddah, Alhaji Muhammad Yunusa, expressed belief that the Buhari administration has boosted Nigeria’s credibility in the international arena, urging the country to take advantage of it.

Yunusa, who noted that the economic recession is not peculiar to Nigeria, cited the recent cut in the salaries of ministers and other political office holders by the Saudi government. He described the 2016 hajj exercise as “highly successful” and commended the management of NAHCON and the host Saudi Arabia for providing the enabling environment for this.

The envoy said that the consulate had written officially to the Saudi government to commend it for the feat, while looking forward for a better performance in the 2017.According to Yunusa, the Consulate has begun the process of interfacing with the Saudi authorities with a view to addressing some of the challenges experienced during the 2016 hajj.

The Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Community in Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Umar Hadejia commended the Buhari administration for boosting Nigeria’s integrity abroad and called on politicians, irrespective of their political affiliations, to give him the necessary backing.

Hadejia expressed concern about the depreciation of the naira against international currencies, a development he said was man-made. He said the trend could be reversed if Nigerians joined the government to reverse it.

The Chairman of NAHCON, Abdullahi Mohammed Mukhtar, in his welcome remarks, said the dinner, which coincided with the celebration of Nigeria’s 56th Independence Day was organised to appreciate the media for the role they played in making the 2016 a huge success.

In a related development, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said that Nigerians should see the prevailing recession as the best opportunity for self and national discovery.Ahmed made the call when the Emir of Borgu in Niger State, Muhammed Sani Dantoro paid him a courtesy visit at the Government Lodge in Ilorin, the state capital.