Why Nigerians Are Suffering – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that Nigeria are suffering due to the sudden drop in the price of crude oil.

He, however, said his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability was saving the country in good stead, despite severe shortage of resources in the country.

The President spoke at the State House, Abuja, while receiving Prof Babatunde Osotimehin, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director and Under Secretary General of the United Nations.

“It has been a very difficult year for Nigeria. Before we came to office, petroleum sold for about $100 per barrel.

“Then it crashed to $37, and now oscillates between $40 and $45 per barrel. Suddenly, we’re a poor country, but commitment to transparency and accountability is not making people know that there is severe shortage,” Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted the President as saying.

The President, however, thanked the UN agency for its commitment to saving lives in Nigeria, particularly of women and children.

On food security, President Buhari made it known that reports from the North-East of the country were encouraging, as people were returning to their farmlands, with the guarantee of relative security.

Prof Osotimehin, a former Minister of Health in Nigeria, said: ” UNFPA was determined to promote health care facilities across the country, noting that reduction of maternal mortality was doable, if the country paid more attention to access to health facilities, and human resources to run them.

“I encouraged Nigeria to commit to providing resources for health care, on a rollover basis.

” I also pledge that the UN would work with the country to provide humanitarian assistance not only in the North-East, but even extended to the Lake Chad basin.”