– President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that his administration will not rest on its oars until the Boko Haram is totally eradicated from Nigeria – The president said it is a thing of joy that on this year’s Children’s Day, the country could celebrate the safe return of one of the Chibok girls, Amina Ali Nkeki and many other abducted women and children who have been freed from Boko Haram by the army – Says his administration will sustain and strengthen ongoing actions to protect children more effectively from violence, child-labour, child-trafficking, forced marriages and other related offences President Muhammadu Buhari has once again reiterated his resolve to eradicate Boko Haram insurgents from the shores of Nigeria.
Buhari who made the resolve in his Children’s day message to the nation on Thursday May 26, vowed that his administration will not “rest on its oars until the ungodly terrorist sect is totally eliminated from our country”. The president said it was a thing of joy that on this year’s Children’s Day, the country could celebrate the safe return of one of the Chibok girls, Amina Ali Nkeki and many other abducted women and children who have been freed from of Boko Haram by the army. He said: “As peace gradually returns to the insurgency-ravaged North-Eastern States, the Federal Government will continue to work diligently to ensure the rapid and full reintegration and rehabilitation of all internally displaced persons, including orphaned children in the region.” “We will also sustain and strengthen ongoing actions to protect children more effectively from violence, child-labour, child-trafficking, forced marriages and other related offences.” He urged children and youth in the country to imbibe and exhibit virtues of hard work, diligence, discipline, honesty, prudence, selflessness and patriotism which are essential for the growth of a great nation. He said the federal government under his leadership will equip children to show the world that with “its brilliant, resourceful and resilient people, Nigeria is a country of incredible potential and opportunity”. See full text of President Buhari’s Children’s Day speech below: PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI CHILDREN’S DAY MESSAGE TO THE NATION I heartily greet and felicitate with all Nigerian children on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration. I seize the opportunity of this year’s celebration which comes just two days before the first anniversary of the present Administration, to reassure our children and youth that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our promise of a better Nigeria for all of our people. On this happy occasion for our children, I reaffirm my belief that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable education, as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good life, in a peaceful and secure environment. The good health and well-being of Nigerian children remain a top priority on our agenda for national development and we have demonstrated our strong commitment in this regard with the allocation of N12.6 billion in the 2016 budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases such as polio, measles and yellow fever. Other measures in the 2016 budget, such as the school feeding programme for children at a cost of N93.1 billion, will ensure that more children go to school and enjoy the fun of learning and growing together with their peers. Despite the current economic and funding challenges facing our dear nation, my administration will continue to do all within its powers to achieve better living conditions and greater access to quality healthcare and education for all our youth. It is a thing of joy that on this year’s Children’s Day, we can also celebrate the safe return of one of the Chibok girls, Amina Ali Nkeki and many other abducted women and children who have been freed from the clutches of Boko Haram by our gallant troops. I assure all Nigerians and friends of the country, once again, that my administration will not rest on its oars until the ungodly terrorist sect is totally eliminated from our country. As peace gradually returns to the insurgency-ravaged North-Eastern States, the Federal Government will continue to work diligently to ensure the rapid and full reintegration and rehabilitation of all internally displaced persons, including orphaned children in the region. We will also sustain and strengthen ongoing actions to protect children more effectively from violence, child-labour, child-trafficking, forced marriages and other related offences. In return, I urge you all to imbibe and exhibit in greater measure, the virtues of hard work, diligence, discipline, honesty, prudence, selflessness and patriotism which are essential for the actualisation of our vision of a truly great nation. The world now looks up to our dear nation, Nigeria as an exemplary model of democratic ideals after the smooth transition that brought our Administration to power. You, our children and youth have a very significant role to play in ensuring that our democratic institutions of governance are continuously nurtured, improved and strengthened to underpin national development and prosperity. Remain assured that under my leadership, the Federal Government will continue to do its best to prepare and equip you to show the world that with its brilliant, resourceful and resilient people, Nigeria is a country of incredible potential and opportunity. I wish you all a Happy Children’s Day celebration. Meanwhile, reactions have trailed Boko Haram’s attack on at least five communities of Ladin Buta near Khaddamari village of Jere local government area of Borno state, on Tuesday evening, May 24. The sect members, according to reliable security source and fleeing residents, invaded the communities around 7pm on Tuesday and set ablaze many houses after killing 13 residents and injuring scores of others. This comes against the backdrop of President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement last month that the Boko Haram terrorists have been degraded to the extent that the group can no longer seize and hold on to any territory in the country.
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