The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of the country´s 57^th independence anniversary to reflect on its challenges over the years.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party´s National Publicity Secretary made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He also urged Nigerians to strengthen their resolve to build a strong, virile and united country in the interest of all.

He noted that Nigeria’s journey since independence  had been eventful in many respects, adding that the fact that the country had remained united was enough reason to celebrate.

According to Abdullahi, one of the great achievements of the country, was the 2015 presidential election which proved to the world that Nigeria’s democracy has come of age.

He said the election also provided opportunity for Nigerians ”to press the reset buttons in the governance of our country”.

Abdullahi further noted that while there was still so much work to be done to achieve the desired Nigeria the APC was delighted with the enormous strides under President Muhammadu Buhari.

He added that the Buhari-led administration had brought the nation back to the path of rectitude and sanity, ”away from the wanton profligacy and impunity of recent years”.

He said that the party was confident that with the support of Nigerians ”we can reach our economic development goals sooner than skeptics believe is possible´´.

The APC spokesman expressed confidence that the hidden potential of the nation would come to full bloom sooner than later.

This, he said, was especially so with the diversification of the country´s economy by the current administration, with special focus on agriculture, the creative industry, solid minerals and other viable sectors.

Abdullahi said that the ongoing implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), must be supported by all as a basis for realising social inclusion objectives, such as employment generation and eradication of poverty and inequality.

´´Such safety net initiatives as the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer and N-Power will guarantee that the poor and vulnerable directly benefit from economic development.

´´Happily, the economy has started responding to these policy initiatives of the government as evidenced in the improvement and stability of the naira exchange rate and the increase in the country’s foreign reserves,´´ he said.

He reiterated that it was in our collective interest to support and remain steadfast to the cause of a united Nigeria in the face of current agitations.

Abdullahi added that our strength as a nation, remained in our diversity.

He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to restructuring, saying that it believed that ongoing efforts in that direction, would address some of the underlying concerns that had emerged.

´´As we celebrate our 57th independence anniversary, we must sustain the hope that brighter days are ahead of us.

´´Let us join in the effort to build a more vibrant nation that every Nigerian will be proud of. The future holds great dividends,” Abdullahi stressed.