President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that his administration will deal with bandits to ensure that they do not create havoc against access to farms and food production.
According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President made the pledge while addressing reporters after observing the Eid-il-Fitri prayers at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
The statement was titled, ‘President Buhari Pledges Action Against Bandits’ Threat To National Food Security.’
The President who hoped for a good rainy season this year said “the law enforcement agencies are working hard to regain confidence against bandits so that we can go back to the land. This is very important.
“This is what the agencies are busy doing right now. We want people to go back to the land so that we can get enough food for the country and even export.”
“We are working very hard. We are hoping Nigerians will understand the problem. Nigerians know at what stage we came in in 2015, what state we are today both on security and the economy and we are doing our best.”
He commended the National Assembly for its support, saying emphatically that “the National Assembly is cooperating very well. Within the resources available, they are certainly giving us priority on our (military) requests.”
The Nigerian leader made an appeal to the nation’s elite to show a better appreciation of the problems facing the country.
“The elite should make the attempt to understand the military. If we order for weapons and armored vehicles, it takes time for the manufacturers.
“It takes time to ship them and when brought here eventually, they are taken to training institutions, train the trainers before sending them to the field. This is a very long process.
“I expect Nigerians to be more understanding on the issues involved, looking at time and available resources”, Buhari added.