President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared Nigeria's fight against corruption as "unwavering and unshakable," emphasizing the government's commitment to pursuing the recovery of assets stolen from the country by perpetrators of economic crimes worldwide.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of a Summit on Stolen Assets Recovery in Abuja, President Tinubu outlined his administration's determination to hold economic crime perpetrators accountable through digital identification methods.
"Our resolve as a government to fight corruption is unwavering and unshakable, and we are pleading with our development partners to join us in this journey to rid our society of corruption," Tinubu stated during the summit, which was attended by several foreign nationals and international organizations.
The President emphasized that his administration would take deliberate steps to strengthen anti-corruption institutions and policies, ensuring that transparency and accountability are enforced while perpetrators face justice for their unlawful actions.
Impact of Corruption on Nigerian Society
Highlighting the devastating effects of corruption on Nigeria's healthcare, education, and infrastructure sectors, President Tinubu noted that misappropriated public funds have had painful consequences for the nation.
"Corruption weakens our institutions, erodes trust in governance, and deprives our people, especially the vulnerable, of the services and opportunities they deserve," he explained.
The President emphasized that asset recovery sends a clear message that there will be no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria, serving as both a deterrent and a practical tool to rebuild national confidence in public institutions.
Utilization of Recovered Assets
According to President Tinubu, recovered stolen funds have already been channeled into financing critical infrastructure projects across the country. These include the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano expressway, and rural electrification programs.
"Let us work together with steadfast determination to build a Nigeria and a world where integrity triumphs over impunity and justice prevails over greed," the President urged, calling for courage and unity of purpose in tackling corruption.
While declaring the Summit open, President Tinubu charged participants to foster collaboration, inspire innovative solutions, and make significant progress in the fight against corruption.
The summit aims to strengthen international cooperation in identifying and recovering assets stolen from Nigeria, with a focus on using recovered funds for national development projects that directly benefit Nigerian citizens.
