Buhari to militants: Let's negotiate how we'll manage our resources

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will persuade "our friends" in the Niger Delta to sit down with it and agree to manage the nation's resources "rather than think of fighting it out."

President Buhari said this at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday when the representatives of the Federal Capital Territory paid him a Christmas homage.

He asked his visitors to talk to Nigerians to be patient with his government, saying "We are always thinking about our country and we are thinking about our people. 

"God has given Nigerians a lot of preachers and resources, both human and materials. We'd better do the same thing for our children and grandchildren. 

"I assure you that the country and the people of the country are always uppermost in our minds. Our performance in the North East, Nigerians know that this government is serious."

Buhari the challenges of security and economy which he identified during his election campaign still remained the nation's fundamental problems almost 18 months after he took over.

"I think it is good to select objectives and be honest about it and work towards it. It is now almost 18 months since we resumed here. We are very lucky, I believe some of you followed us during our campaigns and what we identified are still fundamentals problems. 

"The first is security, and we kept on saying whether it is an organisation or a country, we have to first secure it before we can manage it properly. Without security, nothing can work.

"Secondly, the economy and the unemployment of able bodied persons," the president said.