ON the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration, President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured that he would fulfill the campaign promises he made to Nigerians.
In his message to mark the occasion, which was made available to State House corespondents in Abuja, on Thursday, he reaffirmed his belief in every child’s access to quality education, healthcare and basic necessities of life.
Towards this, he explained that his administration had made necessary provision in the 2016 budget, not minding the difficult economic conditions the nation was facing.
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He said: “I seize the opportunity of this year’s celebration, which comes just two days before the first anniversary of the present administration, to reassure our children and youths that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our promise of a better Nigeria for all.
“On this happy occasion for our children, I reaffirm my belief that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable education, as well as health care and other basic necessities for a good life, in a peaceful and secure environment.
“The good health and well-being of Nigerian children remain a top priority on our agenda for national development and we have demonstrated our strong commitment in this regard, with the allocation of N12.6 billion in the 2016 budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases, such as polio, measles and yellow fever.
“Other measures in the 2016 budget, such as the school feeding programme for children at a cost of N93.1 billion, will ensure that more children go to school and enjoy the fun of learning and growing together with their peers.”
The president expressed joy at the rescue of Chibok girl, Amina Ali Nkeki and many other abducted women and children, who had been freed from the clutches of Boko Haram by the nation’s gallant troops.
He assured all Nigerians and friends of the country that his administration would not rest on its oars until the terrorist sect was totally eliminated from our country.
Meanwhile, President Buhari, on Thursday, assured that Nigeria would continue to meet all its obligations to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) commision.
Receiving the new president of the commission, Mr Marcel Alain de Souza, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he assured him that Nigeria would go on playing its leadership role in ECOWAS.
The president told Mr de Souza that the Federal Government would also strive to show a good example to others by meeting all its financial obligations to the sub-regional organisation.
Mr de Souza commended President Buhari for Nigeria’s recent successes in the war against terrorism and insurgency.
He noted that with terrorist attacks spreading to countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire and others, security had to be accorded more priority by ECOWAS, adding: “Without security, there can’t be development and progress.”
