Nigeria's Poverty Condition Upsets Me – Buhari Reacts

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari has denounced the poverty level of the country saying it makes him deeply uncomfortable.

Noting that education has become a luxury to many Nigerians, Buhari condemned the brazen insensitivity of the elite to the plight of the less privileged ones in the country. “Culturally, some of us are quiet merciless, we don’t care about what happen to others we just keep on moving forward," he said.

While hosting top members of the executive cabinet including the Vice President, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo, Ministers, Service Chiefs, Heads of Security Agencies to a Ramadan fast breaking session  (Iftar) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, this week, Buhari said the elite must take it upon themselves to complement the government's schemes targeted at eradicating poverty.

His words:  “When I drive around the country what upset me very much is the status of our poor people in this country – you see young people, the so-called Almajiris with tore dresses, with plastic bowl. They are looking basically for what to eat. 

“The question of education (to them) is a luxury. I think Nigerian elite we are all failing because I think we should have a programme that will at least guarantee some basic education for our people no matter how poor they are. 

“So, I welcome the Vice-President initiate of the School feeding programme. If you check in your localities the enrolment into schools improved because a lot of children can get at least one good meal a day. This is the position of this country. 

“But, culturally some of us are quiet merciless, we don’t care about what happen to others we just keep on moving forward. 

“This `market money’ I warned the Vice-President I don’t like him to be mobbed, especially the way I see hefty women coming and confronting him, he should be very careful. “These are very good initiates. Initially, I was quite reluctant but I must admit that they are very good programmes and they endear this government to a lot of poor people because of these N5,000 or N10,000 being given to them as loans. 

“They are fantastic programmes and I have to admit quite honestly that the Vice-President was ahead of me by insisting on them. “But he knows me if he insists I will say `okay go and do what you like.’ He did it and I’m very pleased as he is being very successful,’’ he said.