Buhari reiterates call for international legal framework to enforce anti-corruption measures

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday declared that Nigeria will support the development of an international legal framework to enforce anti-corruption measures and strengthen existing international institutions to fight corruption as it is the bane of development.

Delivering Nigeria’s statement at the 71st session of the United Nation’s General Assembly, with the theme, “Sustainable Development Goals: a Universal Push to Transform the World,” Buhari told world leaders that Nigeria will continue to call for the speedy and unconditional recovery of illicit assets stashed abroad even as his administration continues to focus on the fight against corruption as one of its cardinal pillars.

He said corruption freezes development and undermines the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Earlier in May the President at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London made the first call for the establishment of an international anti-corruption infrastructure that will monitor, track and facilitate the return of such assets to their countries of origin.

Expressing delight that the anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria has started yielding positive dividends including significant recovery of stolen assets the President said the capacity of government agencies was being strengthened to institutionalize reforms that will ensure
transparency and good governance across board.

“Nigeria supports the development of an international legal framework to enforce anti-corruption measures and strengthen existing international institutions to effectively deal with corrupt practices.

“The recovered funds are being channelled towards the development of critical infrastructure and the implementation of social inclusion programmes for our people,” he said.

The Nigerian government had in June this year released details of successful recoveries made within the one year of the current administration. The details released by the country’s ministry of information had shown that a total cash amount N78.33billion, $185.12million, £3.52million and €11,250 had been released between May 29, 2015 and May 25, 2016.

A combination of cash and assets, of N126.56billion, $9.09bilion, £2.48million and €303,399 were said to have been recovered under interim forfeiture within the same period.

Anticipated repatriation from foreign countries was put at $321.317million, £6.900million and €11,826. The ministry announced that a total of 239 non-cash recoveries like farmlands, plots of land, uncompleted buildings, completed buildings, vehicles and maritime vessels had also been made during the period in review.

Despite the recoveries made, Nigeria is currently in a recession as the prices of oil which is the country’s main stay remains unstable.
Acknowledging that Nigeria is not spared the adverse effects of the current global economic downturn, the Buhari said his administration was undeterred and has embarked on comprehensive diversification reforms by shifting emphasis to non-oil sectors of “mining, agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure development and the creation of the enabling environment for Foreign Direct Investment.”

According to him “Our strategic objective is to stimulate the economy, restore growth and accelerate recovery. In doing this, we are taking measures to reduce the cost of governance and increase expenditure on infrastructure and ensure environmental best practices.”

In his speech said Nigeria remained committed to achieving the SGDs, which he posited “underscore the imperative for our collective will towards finding enduring and sustainable solutions to addressing global disparities.”

Buhari said that Nigeria is proud to be a part of the process leading to the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, and supports the African Union initiative on the Great Green Wall to halt desertification. Attributing the drying up of Lake Chad to the negative consequences of Climate Change, the Nigerian leader called for global support to raise $14 billion US Dollars being the estimated cost of restoration of the Lake over a five-year plan.

The President who said it was in furtherance of the country’s commitment to environmental sustainability that Nigeria commenced the cleanup of Ogoniland, called on development partners and multinationals to contribute to the Ogoniland Restoration Fund.

Buhari also touched on the subject of global terrorism stating that “Nigeria has made remarkable progress in our resolve to defeat Boko Haram whose capacity to launch orchestrated attacks as a formed group has been severely degraded. In the last few months, their operations have been limited to sporadic use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) against soft targets.”

Calling for enhanced international cooperation to defeat the global scourge, the Nigerian leader said Nigeria will continue to fight terrorism “based on the established rules of engagement and in
conformity with international best practices.’

On the flow of migrants, statehood for Palestinians in conformity with Security Council resolutions; the vital role of youth to national development; nuclear security and the reform of the United Nations Security Council to give Africa adequate representation Buhati said “Nigeria stands ready to serve Africa and the world on a reformed Security Council to advance international peace and security.”