President Buhari new year speech: The five talking points

On 1 January 2021, President Buhari addressed Nigeria via a LIVE broadcast and we bring you the highlight. These are the five key talking points from the presidential new year speech.

1. COVID-19 pandemic

Opening the new year message, President Buhari acknowledged that the year 2020 was a challenging one especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned that it had tried Nigerians and their ability to survive.

Also, while urging Nigerians to follow the COVID-19 social distancing regulations, he encouraged them to observe new year celebration fully.

Additionally, President Buhari assured citizens that the government is hard at work trying to obtain vaccines for them.

2. EndSARS protests

During his new year speech, President Buhari did not skip the EndSARS protest that defined some aspect of 2020. Instead, he mentioned that the government have listened to the ‘understandable protest’ and demand of the youths.

Thus, it will fulfil the five demands of the EndSARS protest. “As their elected president and commander-in-chief, I will ensure that these challenges are faced head-on,” Buhari said.

3. Insecurity

The issue of insecurity in the country has also been a source of worry for many citizens. President Buhari revealed that the federal government will move to a more proactive and preemptive future to ensure that terrorism and banditry do not become a norm.

He said this after he applauded the collaborative efforts of all those involved in freeing the over 300 abducted Kankara schoolboys.

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Further, he said that he recognises that his administration still has a lot to do on this issue but that things have gotten better since 2015. In addition, he urges dissatisfied Nigerians that they are within their rights to be unhappy and that he holds no grudges against them.

4. Youths

“Securing this nation means securing the future of our youths,” President Buhari said in his new year speech. He mentioned that young people are the most ‘vulnerable resource’. Yet, he said that they are precious, and their success in several aspects of life and career has proven this fact.

Thus, he is promising to create a nation and environment that develop the youths. “To turn their visions into ideas that can be supported, groomed and scaled,” President Buhari said.

5. Business

President Muhammadu Buhari has told neighbouring countries that Nigeria is ‘fully open for those willing to conduct business’. He said that the country is rehabilitating, modernising, and expanding its national infrastructure base.

Railway systems, national roads, airports, seaports and bridges are part of the things the government is improving.

Share what you think of the president’s speech with us in the comments section.