Despite widespread economic crunch, President Muhammadu Buhari has boasted that his regime created the best environment to do business in Nigeria.

On ease of doing business in the country, Mr Buhari revealed that his regime had done well in improving the business climate.

‘‘No administration has done as much as we have done in the creation of a climate best suited for business, big and small, to thrive,” claimed Mr Buhari. ‘‘The ease of doing business index that is globally recognised has acknowledged that the ease with which business is carried out in the country has never been better than it is today. We will continue to make it better.”

He, therefore, urged the private sector to complement the government’s effort in poverty reduction and job creation for the young people.

Mr Buhari also urged all political parties in Nigeria to keep elections and election-related differences aside and join his regime in fighting bandits and other criminals ravaging the country.

In a statement late Tuesday night, his media aide Femi Adesina said the president made the call at an Iftar dinner with members of the business community and the leadership of political parties in Abuja.

Mr Adesina quoted the president describing insecurity as a ‘‘common enemy’’ bedevilling the country.

‘‘Without mass, popular support for our hard-working Armed Forces, it will take us much longer to finish off the successful war we are waging against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping,” explained Mr Buhari. “Our country must be kept safe for progress and prosperity to be entrenched. I look forward to seeing the reflection of this spirit in the relationship between the parties and the government, especially as the electioneering season will soon be on us.”

Mr Buhari recounted that last week the national executive committee ( NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had success at its meeting, ending with a clear message that the party would continue to push for the establishment of democratic principles at all levels.

‘‘Today, we can proudly say that we have a political system that allows political parties of all views and persuasions, reflecting the diversity of our nation, to co-exist, and contest elections at all levels of government without fear or institutional bias and pressure,” noted Mr Buhari.

(NAN)