Our Youths Deserve A Prosperous Nigeria, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is committed to promoting accountability because the youths deserve to inherit a stable and prosperous country.

The President said this on Thursday while receiving a Letter of Credence from the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karlsen, at the State House in Abuja.

He noted that more than 60 per cent of Nigerians fall into the age category of youths, adding that the insistence on probity and transparency in the public and private sectors is to secure the future of the country for all Nigerians.

“Our insistence on probity is to encourage people to be accountable, and accept honesty as a lifestyle so as to secure the future of our youths,” President Buhari said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

– Signing The EPA –

He told the EU envoy that the Federal Government would work assiduously to prevent waste and the depletion of resources by corrupt Nigerians.

The President pledged that his administration would continually promote the culture of honesty and integrity in service, which would guarantee a better future for the youth.

He explained that Nigeria had been reluctant to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) among ECOWAS countries because of the need to protect the economy, especially the industries and small businesses that currently provide jobs for majority Nigerians.

President Buhari believes the signing of the agreement would expose the industries and small businesses to external pressures and competitions, which could lead to closures and job losses.

“We are not enthusiastic about signing the EPA because of our largely youthful population. We are still struggling to provide jobs for them, and we want our youths to be kept busy.

“Presently, our industries cannot compete with the more efficient and highly technologically driven industries in Europe. We have to protect our industries and our youths,” he explained.

The President further commended the EU for its support for the rehabilitation of the North East, saying the Nigerian economy was already being repositioned to attract more investments that would create jobs.

In his remarks, Karlsen pledged the continuous support of the EU for President Buhari’s administration in the key priority areas of security, economy and the fight against corruption.

He said the EPA was designed to accommodate and protect some economies that would find it difficult to compete.

“We are hopeful that there will be a signature on the agreement,’’ the EU envoy added.

President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Italy, Dr. Stefano Pontesilli, and the Ambassador of Spain, Mr Marcelino Cabanas Ansorena.