President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said his administration has done more to put Nigerians on the track of economic prosperity and social development.

The Nigerian president in his Independence Day broadcast to the nation said Nigerians have failed to understand the steady growth being driven by his administration.

“No government since 1999 has done what we have done in six years to put Nigeria back on track,” Mr Buhari said. “But critics misdiagnose incremental progress as stagnation. Since coming to power, this Administration has tackled our problems head-on in spite of the meagre resources.”

The president said the impatience of some citizens could be understood, but assured of a better future for all.

“I fully understand the anxiety of many Nigerians on the inability of this country to go beyond a never-ending potential for becoming a great nation to an actually great one,” he said.

Nigeria’s economy has plunged into recession three times since Mr Buhari assumed power in May 2015, a record under a single administration.

Widespread insecurity, economic deprivation and dwindling oil prices have combined to earn the country the WHO’s ranking of country with highest number of poor people in the world.