President
Muhammadu Buhari has told the international community that there is need
to come up with strategic action plan against corruption, reports ITRealms.
Speaking in London at the weekend
during the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron of
Britain, President Buhari urged the international community to as matter of
urgency create anti-corruption infrastructure and a strategic action plan to
facilitate the speedy recovery and repatriation of stolen funds hidden in
secret bank accounts abroad.
The summit, he said, should also include mechanisms
that will assist countries like Nigeria to combat illegal activities such as
crude oil theft to which, Buhari said, Nigeria loses about $7 Billion annually.
"When it comes tackling corruption, the
international community has unfortunately looked away for too long. We need to
step up and tackle this evil together. That is why we have gathered here today.
"Corruption creates a system where resources
are shared by a small elite while the majority wallows in poverty. Corruption
also undermines the ability of countries to finance development.
"I recall in this regard, the landmark Addis
Ababa Action Agenda of the 3rd International Conference on Finance for
Development held in January this year.
"A prominent feature of that global framework
is the recognition that good governance and measures to combat corruption and
curb illicit financial flows will be integral to the effort to attain
sustainable development globally by the year 2050.
"It is for this reason that my Government is
determined to address illicit financial outflows which have served as a major
impediment to progress in our country.
"I wish to reiterate our demand that the
global community must come up with mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for
stolen funds and facilitate the return of stolen assets to their countries of
origin," President Buhari said.
ITRealms gathered from the Special Adviser
to the President on Media & Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina that Prime Minister Cameron in his remarks applauded
President Buhari's vigorous efforts to curb corruption in Nigeria.
Other speakers at the opening session included the
President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim and the United States Secretary
of State, Mr. John Kerry.
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