President Muhammadu Buhari met with Catholic bishops on Wednesday.

Buhari told the bishops that Boko Haram was a fraud and a plot to destroy Nigeria.

He criticized the ideology of the terrorist group that prevented people from seeking knowledge, which affected the intellectual growth of citizens.

President Buhari said that the recorded gains in security would be further consolidated and more attention would be paid to the economy, ahead of delivery on May 29, 2023.

The president said the security situation had improved over the years, particularly in the northeast, where the focus had shifted to rebuilding infrastructure and reorienting education.

“I am very grateful for your visit to the Presidential Villa and I agree with you in some of the observations you have made. The issue of insecurity is the most important for us because unless a country or an institution is at peace, it will be difficult to manage.

“I have just returned from Adamawa and Yobe states. During the visit to both states, I listened carefully to what people and officials had to say. And they all said that the situation had improved since 2015, especially in Borno state.

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“Boko Haram was simply fraudulent and a plot to destroy Nigeria. It cannot be said that people should not learn; people need to grow intellectually,” he said.

President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, told executive members of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House, Abuja, that the government would continue to rebuild infrastructure in parts of the country. affected by terrorist attacks. attacks, while stressing that the terrorists had no control over any space in Nigeria.

“Some people have recognized the difference,” he added.

Turning to the economy, the president said creditors had full confidence in Nigeria, with the ability to use resources and repay loans before approvals were granted.

“We are credible, that’s why the countries and institutions agreed to support our development with loans,” he said.

President Buhari said the destruction of oil facilities slowed revenue generation and the government would be tougher on spoilers.

“If we look at the economy, we are trying to trust ourselves more. Nigerians are more dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, and we are doing everything we can to help more people and diversify,” the president added.

He said that some of the challenges faced in the past, including coups and counter-coups and civil war, had prepared the nation to survive.

“We thank God that Nigeria is still one,” he said. “We must not forget that more than a million died for the nation to survive.”

The president said he had been a part of Nigerian history since 1967, fighting in the civil war, serving as Governor, Minister, Head of State, Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, competing in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections, before winning in 2015.

“We should thank God, and we should reflect on these things and thank God more,” he added.

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In his remarks, the delegation leader and CBCN Chairman, Most Reverend Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, praised the President for reforming the electoral system, making it more stable and fair, in particular the enactment of the Electoral Bill.

“Please do not let up on making sure that INEC and other relevant government agencies fulfill their serious duties to conduct peaceful, free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

Ugorji urged the president to use his remaining months in office as commander-in-chief to address insecurity in the country and improve the economy.

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