The legacies President Buhari wants to bequeath

In less than one year, Muhammadu Buhari will cease to be addressed as Mr President. By May 2023, his eight-year tenure of two terms will come to an end.   But like every other leader, President Buhari, certainly, has long been mindful of the kind of legacies he will bequeath to the good people of Nigeria, […]

In less than one year, Muhammadu Buhari will cease to be addressed as Mr President. By May 2023, his eight-year tenure of two terms will come to an end.  

But like every other leader, President Buhari, certainly, has long been mindful of the kind of legacies he will bequeath to the good people of Nigeria, and the country, itself. 

The president is desirous of leaving behind a legacy of infrastructural projects, dotting the vast landscape of the country, by the time he relocates to his country home in Daura, Katsina State. 

Recently, while speaking at a two-day ‘Mid-Term Ministerial Performance Review Retreat’ in Abuja, Buhari directed ministers and their permanent secretaries to redouble their efforts and work in synergy towards the total delivery of his administration’s set target of improving the livelihood of Nigerians. 

He also instructed the ministers to ‘‘ramp up implementation’’ of their mandates along the nine priority areas of his government. 

The president, according to a statement issued, by Femi Adesina, his spokesman, also stressed the need for synergy between the fiscal and monetary authorities in the country to keep the economy on the trajectory of growth. 

Specifically, Buhari’s government has been able to invest in the reconstruction of 21 selected on-going federal roads totaling 1,804.6km, under the Road Infrastructure Development & Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Policy. He was also very keen about completing most of these roads before his tenure elapses. 

It is on record that the Second Niger Bridge has been completed, the Lagos-Ibadan express road, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road, the Lagos-Ibadan rail line have all reached a substantial percentage of completion and are expected to be delivered before the end of the administration. 

Also, Nigeria is about to make history in the area of power generation after the country partnered with the German company, Siemens AG through the Presidential Power Initiative to increase electricity generation to 25,000 megawatts in six years.  

Similarly, in agricultural sector, Nigeria, courtesy of Buhari’s policy, is expected to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure the completion of all large-scale integrated Rice Processing Mills before the end of this Administration. This will help our country to maintain sufficiency in the local production of rice. 

In the three years of existence of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the ministry, created by Buhari, has provided substantial support and assistance to our vulnerable citizens through various programmes. 

Furthermore, despite the challenges (especially that of security hindering its smooth operation, Buhari will be remembered as the President who resuscitated the dilapidated rail sector, Today, modern rail operates in all the six geopolitical zones of the country. 

Nigeria recently signed an agreement with Morocco, on gas supply. By the time the new agreement starts operating, the country’s source of income will increase. 

The whole issue of the indelible legacies President Buhari is passionately anticipating to bequeath is one that I am sure the ministers and permanent secretaries he was addressing at the mid-term retreat will not dismiss with a wave or attempt to take for granted.  

Like their principal, the President, they are conscious of the verdicts of history and posterity. They will surely do everything to actualize Mr President’s grand visions, developmental agenda and economic blueprint for the country, before 2023. I have no doubt! 

 

Aliyu Umar Aliyu, is the Acting Head, Strategic Communication Department, Bureau of Public Service Reform