The report of the release of the fund for critical infrastructure is heartening but at the same time it is demeaning as it underscores the loss of integrity on the part of Nigerian federal authorities that have been managing recovered loot.
Against the backdrop of the inability of Nigeria to account for the billions of dollars of recovered loot by the anti-corruption agencies, a recent conditionality imposed by the United States government for the release of $321 million which is part of the Gen. Sani Abacha loot is instructive in a way. Specifically, the United States authorities would like Nigeria to deploy the money to infrastructure development.
According to reports, the government of New Jersey, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the government of the United States of America, have entered into an Asset Recovery Agreement to repatriate millions of forfeited assets to Nigeria. The projects include the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Abuja-Kano expressway and the Second Niger Bridge. The statement said that the agreement should be seen as a symbol of the weight that the United States government places on the war against corruption. We don’t think so. This is not a development that should be celebrated by a country’s chief law officer.
In June 2016, the Nigerian government said it had recovered assets and funds totaling $9.1 billion as part of its anti-corruption drive. The recovered assets “include monies withheld by past government officials, monies kept in private accounts, monies diverted to private pockets and monies in possession of government officials not disclosed after leaving government,” a spokesman said. The funds were recovered during President Muhammadu Buhari’s first year in office.
Corruption is now an affront on Nigeria. The ordinary people are the victims. The voiceless, innocent masses, nobody cares to bear the brunt of graft. While the people wallow in abject poverty and want, the political class and their elite associates bask in stupendous wealth and luxury. This is the monster that Buhari has elected to eradicate. He should not relent but be more aggressive.
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