Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Monday expressed sadness and worry at the level of poverty in the country.

Buhari made his feelings known when he hosted Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Ministers, Service Chiefs, Heads of Security Agencies and Chief Executives of Federal Government Agencies and Institutions to a breaking of fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

His words: “When I drive around the country, what upsets me very much is the status of our poor people in this country. You see young people, the so-called Almajiris with torn dresses, with plastic bowl.

“They are looking basically for what to eat. The question of education is a luxury. I think Nigerian elite, we are all failing because I think we should have a programme that will at least guarantee some basic education for our people no matter how poor they are.

“So, I welcome the Vice-President for initiating the School Feeding Programme. If you check in your localities the enrollment into schools improved because a lot of children can get at least one good meal a day.

“This is the position of this country. But, culturally, some of us are quite merciless .We don’t care about what happens to others, we just keep on moving forward.

“This market money, I warned the Vice-President. I don’t like him to be mobbed, especially the way I see hefty women coming and confronting him. He should be very careful.

“These are very good initiatives. Initially, I was quite reluctant but I must admit that they are very good programmes and they endear this government to a lot of poor people because of these ₦5,000 or ₦10,000 being given to them as loans.

“They are fantastic programmes and I have to admit quite honestly that the Vice-President was ahead of me by insisting on them. But he knows me if he insists, I will say ‘okay go and do what you like’. He did it and I’m very pleased as he is being very successful.”