TheCable

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, says tribalism has been a problem in the country for many years, and it will take a long time to erase it.

Shehu said the aim of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is for Nigerians to be free to live and work in any part of the country.

While speaking with NAN on the sidelines of an event tagged ‘Positive Voices Campaign Project (PVCR),’ held on Thursday in Abuja, he said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to bring back permanent peace all over the country including Niger Delta, North-East and central part of the country.

“As a matter of fact during the All Progressives Congress campaign, he promised that Nigerians will be free to reside in any part of the country and earn legitimate livelihood without hindrance.

“You can see that the reason for some of the programmes of government like social investments scheme is that Nigerians should be free to reside and work in any part of the country.

“Tribalism is a problem that has been with the government for a long time, it will take time to erase that.”

He urged Nigerians to see themselves as one to enable them earn their livelihood without any hindrance.

Shehu said that it would be a bit difficult to transit to the system that would be beneficial and meant to restructure the economy to produce for exports.

He said although Nigeria had been a consumer nation, the country was currently changing positively by engaging in the exportation of yams.

Shehu gave an assurance that Nigeria would start exporting rice before the end of 2019.

He, however, urged Nigerians to key into government’s initiative of exporting farm produce, adding that no “country would survive if it is import-dependent”.