Nigerians Should Be Clapping Buhari, Thank Him Every Day — Former Minister
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has said Nigerians should be applauding President Muhammadu Buhari every day for what he described as the administration’s achievements in managing the economy and security challenges.
Ngige made the remarks on Sunday while speaking with journalists in Onitsha, Anambra State. He argued that Nigeria would have been in a worse situation if any other person had been in charge during the period Buhari assumed office.
According to him, the administration inherited a fragile economy marked by a sharp decline in oil prices and production but still managed to steer the country out of recession.
“When we came in, oil nosedived to 37 dollars per barrel, with production dropping to about 600,000 barrels per day from 2.2 million,” Ngige said. “Yet we managed the economy out of recession. With any other person handling this situation—economy, security—it would have been worse.”
The minister insisted that Nigerians owed the president and members of his administration gratitude for what he described as improved economic management.
“Nigerians should be clapping for us on a daily basis, and after thanking God, they should thank us. Yes, because God has used Buhari and some of us to make Nigeria work,” he said.
Ngige also highlighted achievements in agriculture, particularly in rice and sorghum production. He said the government’s policies had encouraged dignity in labour and boosted local food production.
“Today, we are second to America in world production of sorghum,” he said. “Today, we are importing about four per cent of the rice needs of the country. Prior to that, this country was spending about five million dollars daily and about 1.8 billion dollars annually on rice importation.”
He dismissed critics of the Buhari administration, describing them as people seeking government appointments rather than meaningful work.
“Those complaining against the Buhari government are loafers looking for appointments and air-conditioned jobs,” Ngige said.
President Buhari’s administration has continued to receive mixed reactions from Nigerians, with supporters praising its policies while critics question its economic and social impact.
