FG hails global endorsement of fight against corruption

The Federal Government has hailed the global endorsement of its anti-corruption fight, calling it an incentive to continue apace with the battle that must be won for the nation to achieve sustainable growth and development.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the acknowledgement of the determined efforts by the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari by the US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, could not have come at a better time.

''The Federal Government is delighted that the anti-corruption war being led by President Muhammadu Buhari has been acknowledged and applauded on a global stage.

''It is particularly gratifying that in that speech, Mr. Kerry made the link between corruption and terrorism. We agree that corruption is indeed a radicalizer because it destroys faith in legitimate authority. Let me remind you, gentlemen, that radicalization is a key causative factor of terrorism,'' Alhaji Mohammed said during a meeting with News and Political Editors in Lagos on Sunday.

The Minister announced that he would soon kick-start a series of town hall meetings across the country to take the sensitization campaign, which he launched in Abuja last Monday, directly to Nigerians, in addition to using the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the relevant units of the Ministry of Information and Culture to reach every part of the country.

He said the government is aware that when you fight corruption, corruption will fight back, adding: ''We know that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have newspapers, radio and television stations and an army of supporters to continuously deride the government's war against corruption. But we are undaunted and will not relent until corruption is also decimated,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said corruption was responsible for the endemic poverty in the country today, noting that whereas Nigeria's national budget has increased from just over 900 billion Naira in 1999 to over 6 trillion Naira in 2016, poverty has also increased almost by the same proportion

''The reason is not far fetched: Appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters,'' he said.

The Minister added: ''When the money meant to construct roads are looted, the end result is that the roads are not built and the people suffer and even die in avoidable road accidents. When the money meant to provide electricity is looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness. When the money meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable to reduce maternal and infant mortality. These are the costs of corruption.''

He also made a comparative analysis of the number of 'Dasukigate' beneficiaries and the amount they collected from the office of the National Security Adviser in 2015 on one hand, and the list of projects and amount across the nation in the Zonal Intervention project of 2015 appropriation act.

''Whereas the sum of 51.829 billion Naira was appropriated for 1,278 projects in the Zonal Intervention Projects for 2015, a total of 21 individuals and companies benefited from the Dasukigate to the tune of 54.659 billion Naira as we know so far. The implication is that the amount received by 21 individuals and companies is more than the 2015 Zonal Intervention Project budget by 2.829 billion Naira!

''Furthermore, the value of what beneficiaries of Dasukigate contributed to development is zero, compared to how the lives of Nigerians would have been transformed, poverty reduced and livelihoods improved by the Zonal Intervention Projects which - as we have shown - would have cost 2.829 billion Naira less than Dasukigate,'' the Minister said.

He said contrary to what is being said in certain circles, that the government is dwelling too much on the war against corruption to the detriment of other areas of governance, enough time cannot be devoted to the fight.

''The situation is very grim indeed, as far as corruption is concerned. That is why the Federal Government is embarking on this sensitization Campaign. Our approach - which is to count the cost of corruption - is not to vilify anyone but to use facts and figures to give Nigerians a sense of what corruption has done to their lives,'' the Minister said.

Segun Adeyemi
SA to The Hon. Minister of Information and Culture
Lagos
Jan. 24th 2016