My commitment to greater Nigeria appreciated by Nigerians – Buhari; Receives results of AIDS Survey, says about 1.9 Nigerians infected

Abuja, March 14, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari says his victory at the polls is a clear demonstration of appreciation by Nigerians for his commitment to a greater Nigeria.

The president stated this when he received a delegation comprising Borgu people from Niger, Kebbi, Kwara and Kishi in Oyo State who were in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, to felicitate with him on his re-election for another four-term in office.

President Buhari reiterated his administration’s determination to continue to provide infrastructure to all communities across the country to uplift the quality of life of all citizens.

He said such commitment would not only be sustained but enhanced in the next level as part of deliberate efforts to guarantee sustainable future for the citizenry as well as generations yet unborn.

The President, who noted the various requests from Borgu kingdom, assured the people of favourable response by government within the limits of available resources.

He thanked members of the delegation and the people of Borgu for expressing their support and love for him before, during and after the just concluded presidential election.

The Emir Of Borgu Mohammed Dantoro had earlier told the President that the people of Borgu Kingdom appreciated his resilience in championing the cause of public good as well as stable and prosperous Nigeria

He specifically thanked the president for the recent award of contract for the construction of new Bussa – Kaiama road which he described as an open sore on the conscience of the nation.

“By Your Excellency’s singular award of this life changing road project, the endless tears of our people in the past generation have at last been wiped from our faces.

“We and our people yet unborn are grateful beyond words. Our people are therefore full of hope that very soon the Federal Government will commence serious construction work on New Bussa-Kaiama road.

In the above regard, the good people of Borgu Kingdom will continue to thank Your Excellency for being our father and our champion.

“We recall that over a decade ago as the then Chairman of PTF, Your Excellency approved for us, the construction of Mokwa-New Bussa-Wawa-Rofia Road with a bridge at Zamare linking Yauri in Kebbi State which was abandoned by the civilian government that took over in 1999, thereby dashing the hope of Borgu people,’’ he said.

The Emir expressed the hope that the roads project if completed had the potential of shortening the Birnin Kebbi-Ilorin-Ibadan to Lagos distance from the present 13 hours to about eight hours, in addition to relieving traffic from the over-stretched Mokwa-Jebba Road.

According to him, this singular project has a huge potential of optimising the agriculture, tourism and transportation sectors in the North West and South West.

Dantoro also made a case for amongst others the creation of Borgu State, establishment of export oriented processing factories international border market and Naval formation along the banks of Kainji lake.

He also called for the funding and strengthening of HYPPADEC to tackle the unique challenges facing communities hosting hydroelectric installations across the country, of which Borgu community was an integral part.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS OF THE NIGERIA AIDS INDICATOR AND IMPACT SURVEY (NAIIS) BY HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE STATE HOUSE BANQUET HALL,

ABUJA,14TH DAY OF MARCH 2019.

PROTOCOL

I am delighted to be here with you today at this very important occasion of the announcement of the results of the just concluded Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey. As you all are aware, a few months ago in this very hall I launched the commencement of this important survey, one of the largest of its kind in the world.

2. Over the last two decades, the Federal Government and development partners have continued to expend significant resources in the fight against HIV with less than commensurate impact on the disease burden.

3. The availability of accurate and reliable HIV data for the country is crucial for planning effective health interventions to arrest the HIV epidemic and ultimately rid the country of this health threat. Recently, the national HIV programme and our development partners have faced challenges in measuring progress against targets and efficiently utilizing scarce resources due to gaps in our HIV data.

4. Since my assumption of office, this Administration has paid particular and deliberate attention to careful planning as a way of implementing effective policies and achieving sustained change.

5. The Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey is therefore in line with our government’s determination of ensuring sustainable solutions to our development challenges. The survey and its results have come at the right time as we commence the full implementation of the National Health Act that will ensure that every Nigerian has access to comprehensive health services.

6. The Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey was designed to provide the data we need to plan adequately and consolidate on the progress towards the elimination of HIV in Nigeria. We are already a step ahead in this regard, as the Federal government has ensured that the HIV treatment programme in Taraba and Abia is properly funded this year and accommodation made to resource future expansions in the coming years.

7. I am pleased to report that this survey has provided Government with the crucial information needed to enable the national HIV response to move forward and plan for a more sustainable and accountable programme based on credible scientific data.

8. I am aware that our development partners have committed enormous resources in supporting Nigeria to conduct this survey. I particularly wish to thank the United States Government, the Global Fund, the United Nations agencies and technical partners for their significant contributions towards this survey.

9. The Federal Government was committed to the successful conduct of the Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey. The survey was completed in record time to the agreed timetable and budget. I wish to note also the commitment of the people living with HIV, State actors and governments, traditional institutions, religious bodies, civil societies, public and private institutions, the media, and indeed all Nigerians in the support provided toward the successful outcome of this survey.

10. I particularly applaud the dedication and resolve of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, (NACA) and the Federal Ministry of Health in seeing this initiative through to its logical conclusion.

11. The official HIV prevalence for persons aged 15-49 years in Nigeria is now 1.4 per cent. An estimated 1.9 million Nigerians are now living with HIV with about one million persons on treatment.

12. I am delighted that these more accurate figures indicate that fewer Nigerians are affected by HIV. However, we cannot celebrate yet, as almost a million Nigerians living with HIV are currently not on treatment. Now that we have data that will help us target for impact, I urge all of us not to relent in this fight, but to increase the momentum in a concerted effort to end the epidemic ahead of 2030.

13. As we mark this important day in the nation’s HIV response, I will like to reiterate the commitment I made at the UN General Assembly in 2017 to progressively add 50,000 Nigerians on treatment every year using government resources. I also welcome the move by the Nigerian private sector to establish a National HIV Trust Fund in the coming months to support our goal of ensuring that all Nigerians have access to high quality HIV treatment and prevention services.

14. If we are to achieve epidemic control and end AIDS in Nigeria, we need a more coordinated and funded national response. I am directing NACA and the Federal Ministry of Health to undertake detailed consultations and consensus building with key sectoral Ministries, the legislature, governors of high prevalence states, our development partners and civil society to chart a new strategic path, building on the results of this survey. To guide this process, we are issuing today a “Revised National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework” document.

15. Today is a critical turning point in Nigeria for a HIV epidemic that has killed many of our countrymen and women. The end of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is truly in sight for our country. Let us therefore work collectively and “push for the last mile.”

16. I thank you all for listening. God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.