President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday told world leaders that corruption
freezes development and undermines the attainment of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Presenting Nigeria’s Statement at the 71st Session of the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA71) in New York, on the theme, “Sustainable
Development Goals: a Universal Push to Transform the World,” the President
restated that “fighting corruption remains a cardinal pillar” of the
current administration.
President Buhari said Nigeria remained committed to achieving the SGDs,
which he noted, “underscore the imperative for our collective will towards
finding enduring and sustainable solutions to addressing global
disparities.”
He also expressed delight that the anti-corruption campaign has started
yielding positive dividends including significant recovery of stolen
assets.
“The recovered funds are being channeled towards the development of
critical infrastructure and the implementation of social inclusion
programmes for our people,” President Buhari said, adding that the
capacity of government agencies was being strengthened to institutionalize
reforms that will ensure transparency and good governance.
He said that Nigeria will continue to call for speedy and unconditional
recovery of illicit assets stashed abroad, stressing that “Nigeria
supports the development of an international legal framework to enforce
anti-corruption measures and strengthen existing international
institutions to effectively deal with corrupt practices.”
While acknowledging that Nigeria is not spared the adverse effects of the
current global economic downturn, the President noted that his
administration remained undeterred and has embarked on comprehensive
diversification reforms by shifting emphasis to non-oil sectors of
“mining, agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure development and
the creation of the enabling environment for Foreign Direct Investment.”
He stressed that “Our strategic objective is to stimulate the economy,
restore growth and accelerate recovery. In doing this, we are taking
measures to reduce the cost of governance and increase expenditure on
infrastructure and ensure environmental best practices.”
On Climate Change, President Buhari said that Nigeria is proud to have
been part of the process leading to the adoption of the Paris Agreement in
December 2015, and supports the African Union initiative on the Great
Green Wall to halt desertification. While attributing the drying up of
Lake Chad to the negative consequences of Climate Change, he called for
global support to raise $14 billion US Dollars being the estimated cost of
restoration of the Lake over a five-year plan.
The President said that it was in furtherance of the country’s commitment
to environmental sustainability that Nigeria launched the cleanup of
Ogoniland, even as he called on development partners and multinationals to
contribute to the Ogoniland Restoration Fund.
The Nigerian leader also spoke on dangers posed by global terrorists,
adding that “Nigeria has made remarkable progress in our resolve to defeat
Boko Haram whose capacity to launch orchestrated attacks as a formed group
has been severely degraded. In the last few months, their operations have
been limited to sporadic use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
against soft targets.”
Nigeria, he noted, will continue to fight terrorism “based on the
established rules of engagement and in conformity with international best
practices,” as he called for enhanced international cooperation to defeat
the global scourge.
President Buhari also stated Nigeria’s position on flow of migrants,
statehood for Palestinians in conformity with Security Council
resolutions; the vital role of youth to national development; nuclear
security and the reform of the United Nations Security Council to give
Africa adequate representation.
“Nigeria stands ready to serve Africa and the world on a reformed Security
Council to advance international peace and security,” the President
declared.