We’ve made progress despite criticisms —Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed that despite the criticism of his administration’s handling of the war against insurgency in the North-East, substantial progress has been made.

He made the statement while receiving the international president of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Dr Christos Christou, at the State House, Abuja, on Friday.

“We know the pathetic situation of children not knowing where their parents are, or the communities they come from, and that was why we established the new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. This is to harness and channel resources to such deprived people,” he said.

The president promised that respite and succour would come to all the troubled areas, adding that many prominent and well-to-do organisations were also involved along with international agencies.

Buhari noted the sacrifices of the organisation on conflict areas in Nigeria, saying that the efforts as individuals and as a group were quite enormous, particularly on non-profit basis.

President Buhari told his guests: “We are grateful to you. We will secure the environment in order for you to do your job. You are not doing it for profit. We remain very appreciative.”

Dr Christou said Doctors Without Borders had been active in Nigeria since 1996 and is an international, independent medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflicts, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare.

The organisation works in 10 states across the country and adheres to principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality, among others.

Its budget for year 2020 is N17.7 billion with 90 per cent of its 3,000 staff being Nigerians.