Establishing national airline not a priority of my government - Buhari
Wed Mar 16, 2016 09:04:am National
7K By sosa hills
President Muhammadu Buhari has dumped his plan to float a new national airline for the country.
The President declared on Tuesday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, that the project was no longer a priority of his administration.
At an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Buhari ruled out setting up a new national air carrier to replace the defunct Nigeria Airways.
This is despite the fact that he had last year directed the Ministry of Aviation to work out modalities of raising a replacement for the defunct Nigeria Airways.
The President also said his administration would explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad voting in the 2019 general elections.
Buhari said: "I want all Nigerians to know that I respect them and their right to choose their leaders."
Noting that some African countries have started allowing their citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, the President said that he fully empathised with the desire of Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in national elections.
He pledged that he will therefore do all within his powers to help them fulfil that desire, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be encouraged to explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad voting in the 2019 general elections.
Buhari condemned the recent political violence in Rivers State and vowed to deal decisively with anyone found to be behind the mayhem and other politically-motivated killings in the country.
He described the killing of people over political differences as primitive, barbaric and unacceptable, adding that his administration would no longer tolerate it, as he had directed security operatives to fish out the perpetrators.
"We will deal decisively with all sponsors of violence. I have given the security services clear directives in this regard.
"We will show that violence in any form will no longer be tolerated before, during or after elections," he said.
Responding to complaints by members of the Nigerian community about the absence of direct flights between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, Buhari instead declared that his administration's main area of focus for now was reducing the level of poverty in the country.
Developing the infrastructure needed to boost production in all sectors of the economy and creating more jobs for young Nigerians will continue to be prioritised by his administration, Buhari stated.
"This is in addition to any other action that will directly improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians", Buhari stressed.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, from Malabo, the President further assured Nigerians there that his administration's war against corruption would be fought without fear or favour.
"We will be merciless and relentless in pursuing all those who abused public trust. Nigerians will see how some of the elite conspired to run the nation down," Buhari stated.
The President declared on Tuesday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, that the project was no longer a priority of his administration.
At an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Buhari ruled out setting up a new national air carrier to replace the defunct Nigeria Airways.
This is despite the fact that he had last year directed the Ministry of Aviation to work out modalities of raising a replacement for the defunct Nigeria Airways.
The President also said his administration would explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad voting in the 2019 general elections.
Buhari said: "I want all Nigerians to know that I respect them and their right to choose their leaders."
Noting that some African countries have started allowing their citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, the President said that he fully empathised with the desire of Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in national elections.
He pledged that he will therefore do all within his powers to help them fulfil that desire, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be encouraged to explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad voting in the 2019 general elections.
Buhari condemned the recent political violence in Rivers State and vowed to deal decisively with anyone found to be behind the mayhem and other politically-motivated killings in the country.
He described the killing of people over political differences as primitive, barbaric and unacceptable, adding that his administration would no longer tolerate it, as he had directed security operatives to fish out the perpetrators.
"We will deal decisively with all sponsors of violence. I have given the security services clear directives in this regard.
"We will show that violence in any form will no longer be tolerated before, during or after elections," he said.
Responding to complaints by members of the Nigerian community about the absence of direct flights between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, Buhari instead declared that his administration's main area of focus for now was reducing the level of poverty in the country.
Developing the infrastructure needed to boost production in all sectors of the economy and creating more jobs for young Nigerians will continue to be prioritised by his administration, Buhari stated.
"This is in addition to any other action that will directly improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians", Buhari stressed.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, from Malabo, the President further assured Nigerians there that his administration's war against corruption would be fought without fear or favour.
"We will be merciless and relentless in pursuing all those who abused public trust. Nigerians will see how some of the elite conspired to run the nation down," Buhari stated.
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