Queen, When Next You Come To Nigeria, You Will See A lot Of Differences, Just Like Oliver Twist, We Need More Investments – Buhari Tells Netherland Monarch Maxima Zorreguieta

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President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the Queen of Netherland, Maxima Zorreguieta who last visited Nigeria in 2017 that when next she decided to visit the black nation, she will see a lot of differences the President said he has made in the areas of infrastructural development to improve lives and make Nigerians eat home grown agricultural products.

President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently in New York, United States of America for the 76 session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, said despite Nigeria being an oil exploiting country, the country lacks financial resources for infrastructural development.

“We have the land, we have the people, capital input is what we need,” President Muhammadu Buhari said.

President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement signed by one of his spokespersons, Femi Adesina and made available yesterday, said he closed Nigeria borders from some neighbouring countries; and that made Nigerians to go back to farms, adding, such helped the country tremendously otherwise with the population of 200 million people, the country would have been in trouble with the advent of COVID-19 disease.

Excerpts of the Press statement is presented thus:

WE KNEW OUR LIMITATIONS, HENCE THE PRIORITY ON INFRASTRUCTURE, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS QUEEN OF NETHERLANDS

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday held a bilateral meeting at the United Nations General Assembly holding in New York, USA, with Her Majesty, Maxima Zorreguieta, Queen of The Netherlands, during which he said Nigeria was well aware of her limitations, and thus prioritized the provision of infrastructure.

“Without infrastructure, development would be limited, so we put emphasis on building roads, rail, and power. We have a comprehensive plan, and we are doing our best,” the President said.

He added that the country was hampered by resources, despite being oil exporting, and that with more financial wherewithal, infrastructure works would be sped up.

President Buhari assured the Queen, who last visited Nigeria in 2017, that if she came again, she would see a lot of differences.

In the area of agriculture, the President said Nigerian borders were closed with some neighboring countries to encourage farmers, “and eat what we grow. People went back to the land, and this helped us tremendously. We made fertilizers available, resuscitated dams, and it all paid off handsomely. Otherwise, with about 200 million people, we would have been in trouble when COVID-19 struck, and affected the economy.”

He said just like Oliver Twist, Nigeria could do with more help in the area of investments, particularly in agriculture.

“We have the land, we have the people, capital input is what we need,” President Buhari stated, adding that Nigerian farmers were quite receptive to modern ways of doing things, especially in respect of cutting post-harvest waste.

Queen Zorreguieta lauded what she called “the huge effort” made by Nigeria to combat the Coronavirus pandemic, saying; “you spent a great part of your GDP.”

She said she had a huge commitment to Nigeria, “and will want to accompany her to do more. You won’t be alone. We will be there along with other partners.”

The Queen said agriculture was music to her ears, being the daughter of a former Minister of Agriculture, and her biggest plea would be for Nigeria to make infrastructure available, so that investors and aid donors can access areas beyond the major cities.
“We need roads, railways, digital financial inclusion for farmers. Government needs to digitize all payments,” she said.

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, (Media and Publicity), September 22, 2021