Present hardship a passing phase, Buhari assures Nigerians at Christmas

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the present hardship in the country is a passing phase in which the true test of the nation will emerge.

This is contained in his Christmas message made available to the media on Friday, where he also assured that his administration will not abandon his promises to Nigerians to create, for them, a new lease of life.

He stated: “Christmas is a season when hope is rekindled. Hope, Peace, Joy, Love are the recurring themes of this time.

“It is in the midst of hardship that the true test of a nation emerges.

“I urge Nigerians to invoke the indomitable spirit in us and see the present order of things as a phase that will also pass, just like other unsavoury situations in the nation’s history.

“This government will not abandon the promises made to Nigerians for a better lease of life.

“The diversification of the economy embarked upon is yielding fruits.

“We shall continue to create opportunities for our teeming youths to ventilate their tremendous energy.”

President Buhari rejoiced with Christians in Nigeria as they join fellow believers all over the world to celebrate this season.

He observed that it is a special period that brings peoples of the world together with one purpose; to celebrate togetherness, joy, peace, and above all, to share the love with one another through an exchange of goodwill and gifts.

Speaking on the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, Buhari noted that for the second Christmas running, the world will not be able to celebrate as we used to in years past.

He said the pandemic, with its attendant debilitating impact, has remained with mankind, mutating and leaving in its wake devastating consequences on the economy, social interaction, and curtailing certain freedoms.

According to him, the silver lining, however, is that humanity has been able to rise up with one voice and purpose, to confront the foisted conditions.

He used the opportunity to appeal to citizens to embrace vaccination, which he said, is the best scientifically known bulwark against the pandemic.

The president added: “Recent events have shown that vaccination greatly reduces the effects of the virus on the human body.

“I will also urge those that have taken the two doses to go ahead and take the booster as advised by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC).

“I commend the efforts of members of the PSC under the headship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as they continue to chart a roadmap out of the pandemic and associated issues.”

On security, President Buhari remarked that despite the remarkable successes generally recorded, “we still have some challenges.”

He added: “Our courageous security forces, bolstered by the necessary support from this administration, daily confront the wicked ones amongst us, who continue to threaten the peace of the land.

“Recently, during the meeting with fellow Heads of State of the ECOWAS, I discussed the need to intensify efforts to jointly confront this menace causing instability in our sub-region.

“I am confident that with the renewed commitment and empowerment of our committed security personnel, all these issues which inflict pain and trauma on us will soon be history.

“Let us utilize the opportunity that this festive period brings to encourage ourselves so that the machinations of the wicked ones in our midst will find no place to thrive.”

The president urged citizens to spare moments to reach out to the less privileged as “we felicitate with family, friends, colleagues, associates.”

He also called for prayers and giving of words of encouragement to the gallant security personnel fulfilling their oaths to keep us safe.

“I assure my compatriots that this administration remains resolute at ensuring that the standard of living of the average Nigerian is elevated,” he declared.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…Present hardship  Present hardship

Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train

The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…Present hardship  Present hardship