U.S Denies Applauding Buhari Over Nigeria’s Exit From Recession

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), says it never applauded the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration over Nigeria’s exit from recession.

Russell Brooks, Press Attaché, Embassy of the United States of America, said statement credited to the USAID in the Thursday’s edition of Leadership Newspaper, was false, adding the David Musa who was quoted in the publication is not affiliated to the organization.

Brooks further flayed the reporter for not doing proper research before publishing the report.

Musa, who was referred to as the Team Leader of USAID Bee Keeping Pollination Project in the publication, had said the second quarter report of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which indicated that Nigeria was out of recession was a welcome development.

He, however, advised the government to create an open market platform, especially for bee farmers across the country.

His words: “The report by the National Bureau of Statistics has credibility because farmers especially bee farmers are now selling more and making more profit.

“We are happy for this but the government must strengthen the ease of doing business, public policies, help the private sector to deliver wide impact to sustain the exit”.

Dismissing the report, Brook told the Daily Sun: “The story in today’s Leadership concerning USAID applauding the FG on exiting recession is false.

“The person being quoted, David Musa is not affiliated with USAID and has no authority to speak on its behalf. He’s a fraud and obviously the journalists did not do their homework.”

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), on Tuesday showed that the country’s Gross Domestic Product posted a 0.55 percent growth in Q2 2017.

The figure confirmed Nigeria’s exit from recession, which it slipped into since August 2016.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Yemi Kale, said that the effect of Nigeria coming out of recession will not be immediately felt by the people.