Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari yesterday regretted that despite his shoot-at-sight order on non-state actors bearing AK-47, smuggling of arms and other contraband still thrives in the country, lamenting that people are merciless towards the country.
The president made the assertion when he spoke yesterday at the presidential villa, Abuja during the 6th regular meeting with the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), led by Professor Doyin Salami.
The president decried the situation in which some unscrupulous people tried to undermine every policy of the government, irrespective of the good it was meant to achieve for the country just to satisfy their selfish self-serving motives.
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A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) quoted him as saying: ‘Some people are mercilessly against this country,’ the President said. ‘We closed the borders to control the smuggling of petroleum products, and check the influx of smuggled goods, arms and ammunition. That was when the Comptroller General of Customs called me, saying 40 tankers laden with petrol had been impounded. I told him to sell the fuel, sell the trucks, and put the money in the treasury.
‘They still brought arms and ammunition into the country, brought in rice in vehicles and motorcycles. I said shoot anyone found illegally with AK-47, yet they haven’t stopped. People must show consideration for their own country.’
President Buhari assured that his administration will focus on the greater development of irrigation facilities in the country, and encourage more people into agriculture.
He said agriculture was a good way for the country to overcome economic challenges confronting it, stressing: ‘We need to go back to the land. Technology is doing away with petroleum, but we are lucky we have other resources; Gas, vast arable land, which we are not using enough‘ he added.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK