How War Against Corruption Has Been Effective Under Buhari - Aide

 

The Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the war against corruption has been effective under President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Mr Garba Shehu stated this in an article he shared on Sunday evening. 

In the article, he highlighted some achievements of Mr Buhari, who has served for five years following his election in 2015 and reelection in 2019.

"In government, President Buhari has waged an effective war on corruption, with some 60 per cent of the general public personally experiencing its rapid decline - in testament to the administration’s zeal." 

"And earlier this year some USD 300 million in funds looted under a previous regime was finally returned to Nigeria from banks in the US and the UK (Jersey Islands) and all of that money is being channeled into infrastructure financing,"

Mr Shehu recalled that in December 2017, the Federal Government signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Switzerland on the return and monitoring of the $322 million Abacha loot. 

He, however, stated that the money retrieved is being used to fund the Social Investment Programmes, including the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) that began in December 2016. 

"These funds are now being distributed directly to individual citizens mostly in need during the coronavirus pandemic and to allow for a three-month moratorium on loan repayments by farmers and small businesses granted through government schemes."

The President aide, however, stated that the Boko Haram insurgents have been fractured and as such retreated. 

"Today, the majority of the Chibok girls are now returned to their families. Boko Haram is fractured, desperate and in retreat. Our military is rebuilt, and previous partnerships with the British and American militaries that had seen those countries place defence equipment export bans upon previous Nigerian administrations are lifted."

Meanwhile, checks by Allnews showed that the claim of Mr Shehu is contentious. Recently, six passengers travelling in two buses along the Maiduguri – Kano highway were hacked to death by Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

More so, he spoke on the fight against the scourge of COVID-19 which is ravaging countries of the world at the moment. 

"When this worldwide health emergency is defeated, we must look to each other to rebuild the global economy - and look to strengthen partnerships that work."

He added that "Nigeria is ready to take a more forthright role in the Commonwealth and global economic system as a whole."