By Ebitonye Akpodigha
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the private sector in Nigeria to support his administration as he works hard to restore the country’s dying economy.
Mr Buhari, in his speech at the one-day ministerial retreat on the economy and the budget held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja on Thursday, September 15, 2016, said the role of the private sector in changing the fortune of Nigeria cannot be underplayed.
He also said the legislature and the judiciary have key roles to play in revamping the country’s economy, calling on them to support his programmes.
The President said the timing of the programme was right, especially when Nigeria’s “economy [was] in a recession, with significant downturn in performance in various sectors.”
Mr Buhari urged the Ministers “and other senior government officials here present to actively participate in the Second Technical Session.”
He stressed that their active involvement in the retreat “will provide you with deeper insight into the complex issues that will open opportunities for you to identify critical priority projects and programmes for the 2017 Budget.”
The President expressed confidence that Nigeria would be great again and takes its rightful place in the continent.
“While Government is taking the lead in the task of repositioning our economy for change, we cannot achieve this completely by ourselves.
“We will need, and we ask for the support and cooperation of the private sector’s domestic and foreign investors, the States and Local Governments, the National Assembly and the Judiciary as well as all well-meaning Nigerians in this important task. We are confident that working together, we shall succeed,” Mr Buhari said at the occasion.
The President concluded by saying he looked “forward to receiving the report of the retreat.”
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka