We’re doing our best, building infrastructure, Buhari tells Netherlands Queen

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration has been focused on building infrastructure such as roads, railway and power, adding that the effort is beginning to yielding results.

The President currently in New York for the 76th United Nations general assembly spoke on Wednesday during a meeting with Queen of the Netherlands, Maxima Zorreguieta, according to a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

Buhari also said the closure of Nigeria’s borders for over one year had helped the country “tremendously”.

The statement quoted the President as saying, “Without infrastructure, development would be limited; so we put emphasis on building roads, rail, and power. We have a comprehensive plan, and we are doing our best,” Buhari said.

He however said that there had been limitations due to the fluctuations in oil prices.

As Adesina noted, the President said the decision to close the country’s borders was to encourage farmers, “and eat what we grow”.

“People went back to the land, and this helped us tremendously. We made fertilizers available, resuscitated dams, and it all paid off handsomely,” Buhari said.

“Otherwise, with about 200 million people, we would have been in trouble when COVID-19 struck, and affected the economy.”

He also noted that Nigeria is open to more investments, especially in agriculture.

“We have the land, we have the people; capital input is what we need,” Buhari added.

According to Adesina, the queen, in her remarks, commended the Buhari administration for “the huge effort” made to address the coronavirus pandemic.

The presidential spokesman also said the Queen of the Netherlands offered to look into supporting Nigeria, especially in agriculture, as long as the necessary infrastructure is in place.

“You won’t be alone. We will be there along with other partners,” she was quoted as saying.