Buhari Worried Over Population Growth, Calls For Increased Food Production
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern over the unchecked population expansion in the country.
Buhari said, the population exploration, if not checked could bring a lot of problems to future generations.
His Spokesman, Garba Shehu in a statement on Sunday said, while addressing journalists shortly after joining Emir of Daura, Dr. Faruk Umar Faruk, to observe the Eid prayer at the township Eid ground, the former president said, “There is a need for greater discussion and awareness about this problem, as well as a need to invest more in education and health.”
He, however, called for increased food production in the country to crash the rising prices of foodstuffs, and feed the nation.
While wishing everyone Happy Sallah, Buhari appealed to all citizens to make Nigeria self-reliant.
He said, “let us grow our own food. We have shown that we can do it. This is not the time to relent when we see prices going up.
“Let us buy what is produced in the country. The foundation of a prosperous and stable country has been laid by successive governments, and I encourage our youth, in particular, to continue to play an active role in various nation-building efforts.
“I urge the youth of the country to seek to know about the founding fathers of the nation, the important personalities of their regions, and derive inspiration from them”, he said.
He said, “considering the situation in the country, and in the spirit of the Sallah, let us help one another and be our bothers’s keepers. I wish everyone a happy Sallah.”
Speaking to members of the National Youth Service, NYSC who have maintained a tradition of paying homage to him every Sallah, the former president said “the scheme continues to be a strong fabric holding the country together and urged successive administrations to continue to strengthen it.”
He described the NYSC as one of the greatest achievements of General Yakubu Gowon as Head of state.
As he has every year, the former president gave a cow, 10 bags of rice, and some cash to the NYSC members to celebrate the occasion.
