President Bola Tinubu declared yesterday that his administration is making strides in the fight against corruption and bad governance by strengthening anti-corrupt agencies and upholding the ECOWAS anti-corruption protocol. Speaking at the 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corrupt Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing Tinubu, emphasized that the government is ensuring these agencies operate independently and receive sufficient funding.
“Corruption is one of the greatest challenges to our progress and prosperity,” Tinubu stated. “It erodes public trust and disrupts the fair distribution of resources. Over the past year, we have worked hard to strengthen our anti-corrupt agencies by not interfering and ensuring they are properly funded.”
He encouraged West African countries to adopt a similar approach, urging them to “move beyond rhetoric and focus on concrete actions” in implementing the ECOWAS protocol against corruption.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar highlighted the connection between corruption, insecurity, and illicit financial flows, noting that Africa loses $88.6 billion annually to such flows. He emphasized the need for regional and global cooperation to tackle these challenges and promote integrity and transparency.
Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi also stressed the importance of legal cooperation among member states to effectively combat corruption. Meanwhile, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede applauded the federal government’s donation of a permanent headquarters for NACIWA in Abuja, marking a major step forward for regional anti-corrupt efforts.