By Abdullahi M. Gulloma
Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration was resolute in curbing corruption, plugging all loopholes in public sector accounting and deploying available resources for the good of all Nigerians.
Addressing members of the Nigerian community yesterday in India, the President said the recovery of stolen funds and prosecution of persons who had been indicted for corrupt practices would be vigorously pursued.
He said the ongoing recoveries and prosecutions of corrupt public officers would serve as a deterrent to others who would nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gains.
The President also gave the assurance that government recognised the devastating consequences of illegal diversion of public resources meant for national development into private bank accounts, and was doing all within its powers to stop such diversions.
He said: “The anti-corruption campaign will be on-going for many years. We are committed to the enthronement of good governance that plugs the loopholes in public sector accounting, and the use of scarce resources for public good.
“We are determined to demonstrate exemplary leadership that will make our citizens to change their ways in a manner that lays a solid foundation for reconstruction and development.
“I am confident that our approach to fighting corruption through value re-orientation, improved internal processes and systems and the rule of law, as well as enhancing the capacity of the various anti-corruption agencies and institutions will prove more enduring in addressing this evil.
“In the meantime, we will continue to prosecute those who have been indicted for corrupt practices and ensure that stolen funds are recovered, to serve as deterrence to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gains.”
The President also told the Nigerian community that he was fully aware of the expectations of Nigerians who elected him on the platform of change, integrity, probity and accountability, and was doing his best possible to meet those expectations.
“I wish to assure you that we shall do our best to fix the economy, create jobs for the teeming population of our youths and make the home environment safe, secure and more attractive to Nigerians outside the country like your good selves.
“On the economy, our aim is to address the challenge of infrastructure in all its ramifications, especially power and transportation. We are seeking to create jobs through agriculture, mining, industrial value-addition and the promotion of small scale enterprises.”
According to him, “we are also taking steps to address criminality across the country. We are tackling the menace of terrorism posed by Boko Haram head on and I am pleased to note that though sporadic attacks on soft targets have not stopped, the over-all capacity of Boko Haram to hold territory and determine the course of the conflict has been severely degraded.”
He added that “if the current positive trends are maintained, we are confident that by the end of this year, we would have succeeded in permanently turning the tide against the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.”
