Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, on Sunday, said the Federal Government had set aside N3 trillion for projects in 2016.
Shehu disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of a dinner held to celebrate the child dedication of Mr Paul Ibe, the Head of the Atiku Media Office in Abuja.
According to him, the government of President Buhari will make sure that contractors are mobilised and paid for executing the jobs.
He urged Nigerians to be patient with the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government as it would deliver.
He added that “unlike what we have in the past, this government will award contracts and back them up with money to ensure their conclusion.
“Nigerians will be happy in a short while; let us just have a little more patience.”
The presidential aide, who said he attended the event to identify with the celebrator who had been a long standing companion, noted that
the Federal Government had saved more than N3 trillion from the Treasure Single Account (TSA).
He said “Paul has been my friend for long; as a bureau chief and as editor; we have worked closely together for long.
“When he decided to leave ThisDay Newspapers, he accepted to serve with me at Atiku Media office.
“We were there as coordinator and deputy coordinator until my latest appointment.”
On her part, Hajiya, Titi Abubakar, wife of the former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, said that the hardship being faced by Nigerians at present would not be long.
She said that some wrongs ought to be put right before the economy would pick up.
She added that “anything God gives us, we have to say thank you to him; if at this particular time there is change, we have to put the country right before things get well again.
“We have to endure the hardship for a while and all will be good for us by the grace of God.
“Paul is my husband’s staff and we have come here to celebrate with him; God has answered his prayer and we give Him all the glory.”
Responding, Ibe said that the reason for the gathering was to give thanks to God for wiping away his tears.
He said God had renewed his commitment to mankind -that if man remained consistent, his words would be fulfilled.
“When we remain committed to Him, His promises may be delayed but must come to pass,” he said.
Ibe said he had waited for long for a child, adding that with persistence, God would always show His glory to those who trusted in him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new baby boy was named ‘Onweghihekaririchukwu’ –nothing is bigger than God. (NAN)