Abuja – Ahead of its one year anniversary, the Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja appreciated Nigerians for their “support, endurance and perseverance’’.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the appreciation at a meeting with members of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON)

The meeting was attended by four other ministers who spoke on the achievements and challenges in their ministries and interacted with those in attendance.

They are Ministers of FCT, Mohammed Bello, Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah.

Mohammed appreciated the unprecedented trust that Nigerians reposed in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to steer the ship of state to safe shores.

He acknowledged that the nation was passing through a very difficult situation with the loss of more than 60 per cent of national income due to the crash in the price of crude oil.

File: APC chieftains with Obasanjo yesterday during Buhari’s presidential campaign to Abeokuta.

The minister assured that the government would deliver on its election campaign promises to Nigerians.

“This administration is aware that it was not elected to make excuses, but to put the nation back on a sound economic footing, ensure the security of lives and property and banish corruption.

“We have therefore decided to turn the disaster that we inherited into a blessing by diversifying our economy away from the mono-product of oil, leveraging on agriculture, solid minerals as well as culture and tourism, among others.

“In the words of Henry David Thoreau, all misfortune is but a stepping stone to fortune,” he said.

The minister reassured Nigerians that the change promised was real, in spite of the tough situation of the moment.

“Change is no instant coffee, it is a process. We are now laying a solid foundation for our country.

“The road will be rough, but as the saying goes, the darker the night, the brighter the morning. Our long suffering people will surely smile again.” he said.

Mohammed stressed that if the government had not been elected, there would have been no economy in the country.

On the scorecard of the administration in the past one year, Mohammed said significant achievements were recorded in security, economy and the fight against corruption. (NAN)