I'm Serious About Making Nigerians Behave Themselves - Buhari Tells Global Fund CEO

While receiving a team led by Seth Berkley, chief
executive of Gavi and the Global Fund, at the
state house in Abuja on Thursday, President
Muhammadu Buhari says he is serious about
making Nigerians behave themselves.

WE'RE MAKING GENUINE EFFORTS TO CORRECT
OUR LAPSES AS A NATION-PRESIDENT BUHARI

 
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that
lapses that have characterized Nigeria as a nation
would be corrected.

Receiving a team led by Dr. Seth Berkley, Chief
Executive Officer of Gavi and The Global Fund in
State House, Abuja, Thursday, President Buhari
said he was impressed with the patience and
steadfastness of leading supporters of health care
in Nigeria, "despite our shortcomings as a nation."
"We are making genuine efforts to correct the
lapses. We are very serious about people behaving
themselves, and being accountable," the President
said.

"We thank you for deciding to re-engage with us,
despite our inefficiencies. You decided to be here,
not minding our shortcomings. There are other
countries that would bring less problems. We
appreciate your commitment, and we will do our
best to put ourselves in the best shape to help us,"
President Buhari said.

Dr Berkley, who noted that the three focal points of
the Buhari administration; security, economic
development, and anti-corruption were critical to
the future of Nigeria, had raised issues over the
way donor funds for health care were utilized in the
past.

He said Gavi and the Global Fund were
disappointed when forensic audit revealed
systemic weaknesses and corruption in the
utilization of funds given in the past, adding that
there is now a "breath of fresh air" under President
Buhari’s leadership and fight against corruption and
they were willing to "close the books of the past,
and look into future support."

Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, who was
also at the event, disclosed that those indicted in
the audit of the donor funds in the past, which was
done between 2010 and 2015, had already been
questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), and would be arraigned in
court soon.

FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
July 28, 2016.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Gavi CEO, Dr Seth
Berkley, The Global Fund, Executive Director office
of the Executive Director, Dr Mark Dybul, European
Union Minister Counsellor Head of Cooperation,
Brian O'Neill, British Deputy High Commissioner to
Nigeria, Simon Shercliff and Chief Financial Officer
Global Affairs, Arun Thangaraj during an audience
with Gavi and The Global Fund Team at the State
House in Abuja. July 28 2016.