(Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, ABUJA)
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that despite the economic challenges roiling the country resulting in severe shortage of resources, his commitment to transparency and accountability is serving the government in good stead.
He said this‎ while receiving the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director and Under Secretary General of the United Nations, Prof Babatunde Osotimehin, in the State House, Abuja.
“It has been a very difficult year for Nigeria. Before we came to office, petroleum sold for about $100 per barrel. Then it crashed to $37, and now oscillates between $40 and $45 per barrel. Suddenly, we’re a poor country, but commitment to transparency and accountability is not making people know that there is severe shortage,” the President said.
He called for understanding from the UNFPA, adding that an exploding population and different cultural practices in the country provide an opportunity for research for organisations like UNFPA.

Buhari thanked the UN agency for its commitment to saving lives in Nigeria, particularly of women and children.

On food security, Buhari described as encouraging reports from the North-East of the country that people were returning to their farmlands, with the guarantee of relative security.
Osotimehin, a former Minister of Health in Nigeria, said UNFPA was determined to promote health care facilities across the country, noting that reduction of maternal mortality was possible, if the country paid more attention to access to health facilities, and human resources to run them.

He also encouraged Nigeria to commit to providing resources for health care, on a rollover basis, pledging that the UN would work with the country to provide humanitarian assistance not only in the North-East, “but even extended to the Lake Chad basin.”‎