Onyeama stated this at an event on “Building Interactive Coalition against Corruption to Achieve the SDGs” co-hosted by Britain, Denmark and Nigeria on the margin of the UN General Assembly.
The minister decried that Nigeria had suffered from the severe effects of corruption, leading to the loss of billions of dollars to foreign havens since independence.
He regretted that these huge sums of money were stolen and expatriated by corrupt officials and their accomplices.
According to him, however, Nigeria recognises the importance
of collective commitment to winning the fight against corruption and
every form of impunity.
“From the onset of President Muhammadu Buhari’s
administration, fighting corruption has been one of the three pillars of
the administration’s priority programmes.“Buhari demonstrated zero tolerance for corrupt practices by
combating corruption head-on. The administration has not strengthened
all relevant institutions to fight corruption in all its forms and
manifestations.“It has also introduced a new anti-corruption strategy, which was launched in 2017,” he said.Onyeama said the National Assembly had passed several
legislations and was currently debating others in its efforts to combat
corruption, adding that “Nigeria now has the ‘Whistle Blowing Policy’.
“What is required is close collaboration with all stakeholders and a concerted focus to ensure that our commitments in the anti-corruption campaign are achieved.”
NAN.
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