Buhari receives briefing on status of economy

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received briefings on the current state of the economy, expressing delight that it was picking up.

According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, in Abuja, the meeting which took place at the president’s temporary office in the presidential villa, lasted for over two hours.

The statement read: “For almost two hours, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received briefing from the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, after which a delighted President declared that he was pleased with the progress being made on different fronts.

“The Ministers and CBN Governor updated the President on the improving state of the economy, implementation of the 2017 Budget, preparation for the 2018 Budget, revenue strategies, combined cost reduction and debt management.

“Also discussed were monetary policy strategies and their economic impact, among others.

“President Buhari, while reminding the Ministers and CBN Governor that reviving the economy was one of the major planks on which the campaign of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), was based, expressed gladness that things were looking up after two years of yeoman’s job.

“Urging them to keep at it, the President noted that the main aim of government was to bring succour to Nigerians across all walks of life.”