Date: 2016-01-01

The President yesterday sent Nigerians a message of hope - the challenges facing the nation are temporary and will soon fizzle out.

In his New Year message to the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari said that he was not unaware of Nigerians' suffering.

He assured all that he will not fail to keep his promises.

Buhari said: "I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better.

"When I presented myself to you as a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a leader who keeps his promises. I wanted to be a leader who restores the people's hope in those elected to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and enduring CHANGE.

"I am still totally committed to being that kind of leader. Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I made to Nigerians during my election campaign. According to him, his administration in the past seven months since his inauguration on May 29, 2015 has focused on laying the right foundation for the CHANGE that Nigerians voted for during the presidential election. He added: "Nigerians will in due course begin to enjoy the fruits of all ongoing work. The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our people. "One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the Northeast, have already begun to experience major CHANGE is in the war on terror."

The President praised the Armed Forces for significantly curtailing the insurgency, which has ravaged the Northeast of Nigeria over the past few years. He, however, noted that there is still a lot of work to be done in security.

He said: "Our Armed Forces will maintain, consolidate and build on their successes in the war against Boko Haram and violent extremism.

"This government will not consider the matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and normalcy restored to all parts of the country that have been adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency."

Buhari spoke also on the war against corruption, saying it will continue vigorously.

,p>He urged the courts to support the new efforts in the recovery of stolen funds by speedily concluding trials and showing that impunity no longer has a place in Nigeria.

The President added: "There is much work to do in other areas as well and I have charged all my ministers and other appointees to ensure that Nigerians experience positive changes in their lives in 2016.

"We must reduce our country's reliance on oil. We must diversify our economy. And we must do all we can to promote job creation."

"Our challenges are many but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken. So too is our confidence in God. I wish you all a very Happy New Year," Buhari said.