President Muhammadu Buhari bemoaned Friday in New York that corruption has stunted Africa’s development and tarnished its countries.
According to the President, good governance, accountability, and the application of the rule of law must be maintained in order to further the concerted efforts made in recent years. Africa still ranks at the bottom of the development index.
In a statement released by Chief Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Buhari urged African leaders to battle tenaciously to eradicate corruption, bemoaning the fact that the threat has kept the continent at the bottom of the global development index.
At a high-level side event on the topic of “Food Security Response: Combating Illicit Financial Flows and Securing Asset Returns for Sustainable Development,” which was held in conjunction with the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, the President discussed efforts to eradicate corruption in the continent in his capacity as the African Union Champion.
The Nigerian leader said he was honored to serve as AU Champion on anti-corruption since 2018 as he offered his perspectives on the consequences of corruption in the continent and the way forward at the event co-hosted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD):
’As you are all aware, this will be my last official participation at the United Nations General Assembly as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
‘’I remain honoured and privileged to be President of Nigeria for two terms and I am grateful to the African Union for making me the Continental Organisation’s Champion on efforts to eliminate corruption nationally and continent-wide.
Over the years, we came to the painful realisation on how deeply embedded corruption has become in our countries and continent, as well as how corrosive it can be.
‘’Corruption has dwarfed our growth and tainted our nations and continent. Africa remains at the far end of the development index and concerted efforts made in the last few years need to be sustained, and deepened by good governance and accountability that are guided by the rule of law.
‘’I have strong faith that Africa and our national governments can do this with strong resolve and commitment to eliminating Illicit Financial Flows”.
