Buhari expresses regrets over loss of lives in New Year message

In his New Year message to Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his concern and deepest regrets over the insecurity, banditry and insurgency in the country, saying he feels deeply concerned with every loss of life of Nigerians.

Buhari made his feelings known in his 2022 New Year message to Nigerians on Saturday, January 1.

According to the President, his regime is working with international partners and neighbouring countries to fashion out and “deploy multi-faceted solutions that will be targeted at addressing human security at the grassroots, before it leads to insecurity.”

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While commiserating with families of Nigerians who lost their lost ones in 2021, the President said Nigeria would continue to invest in the firepower needed to fight insecurity.

“I would like to take a moment to remember and honour the gallant Military, Police Officers, and other security agents who have lost their lives in the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of this Nation against both internal and external aggressors, assuring their families that their sacrifices would not be in vain,” Buhari said in the message.

Continuing, he said:

“We equally remember and commiserate with Nigerians who have lost loved ones as a result of insecurity in different parts of the country. Every life matters and every single death caused by any form of insecurity is a matter of personal concern to me both as a citizen and as the President of this great country.

“The persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country may have threatened to unravel the incremental gains achieved in the real sectors of the economy and in the administration’s overall objective to position the nation on the irreversible trajectory of sustainable growth and progress, but, I assure you that we will remain resolute in our commitments and shall continue to press ahead with our programmes and plans.

“The path to nationhood is often fraught with unpredictable difficulties and challenges, and most tried and tested nations have often prevailed through dogged determination, resilience, concerted commitment to unity, and the conviction that the whole of the nation, standing together against all odds, is by far greater and would ultimately be more prosperous and viable than the sum of its distinguishable parts.

“There is no doubt that the issue of security remains at the front burner of priority areas that this administration has given utmost attention to.

“As a follow up to our promise to re-energise and reorganise the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police, it is on record that this administration has invested heavily in re-equipping our military in line with upgrading the platforms and firepower required to tackle the current challenges being faced in the country.

“The net results of these efforts have been the number of insurgents and bandits who have willingly surrendered to our security forces and continue to do so through various channels and the safe corridor created for that purpose.”