Despite concerns about the rise in corruption cases in the country, anti-corruption agencies and development partners reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the problem on Tuesday, saying it was doable.
They expressed their optimism in Abuja during the 2023 African Union Anti-Corruption Day, which was organized by the Inter-Agency Task Team in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Centre for Democracy and Development, with the theme ‘African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption 20 Years After: Achievements and Prospects’.
Abdulkarim Chukkol, Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, emphasized the consequences of corruption, which include bad infrastructure, economic and political difficulties, poverty, and security challenges.
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He voiced concern about young people becoming involved in economic and financial crimes, including cybercrime.
“Corruption is one monster that has troubled and remains a huge challenge to Africa.
“When the so-called future leaders are themselves enmeshed in the criminality of uncommon dimension, it is difficult to imagine what the future holds for Africa,” Chukkol said.
The EFCC chairman expressed optimism and determination that corruption can be fought and defeated.
“A corrupt-free Nigeria, or corrupt-free Africa, is not an Eldorado”, he said.
The Solicitor-General of the Federation, Beatrice Jedy-Agba emphasised the need to combat corruption for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.
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“To ensure progress, we must take steps to combat corruption which is one critical factor that relegates democracy, security and development to the backseat”, she said.
Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, drew attention to the underlying causes of corruption, particularly the disintegration of value systems.
He emphasized the importance of citizens reorienting their values and changing their attitudes in order to enhance their moral character.
According to him, corruption adds to poverty, hunger, and unemployment, all of which can lead to varying levels of insecurity.
Idayat Hassan, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, emphasized the relevance of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, a multilateral instrument enacted to tackle corruption 20 years ago.
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She congratulated the 48 African countries that had ratified the AUCPCC and asked the other seven to do the same.
According to Hassan, effectively combating corruption requires the establishment of strong and capable institutions that promote democratic principles and justice, as well as gender equality.
She also emphasized the importance of African states halting the financial hemorrhage and recovering illicit assets taken from the continent, citing Nigeria’s progress in monitoring and retrieving stolen assets as a result of better international collaboration.
Despite the progress made, all speakers acknowledged that much more work remains to be done.
They encouraged persistent and ongoing efforts on multiple fronts, as well as the implementation of novel ways to address the ever-expanding typologies and taxonomies of corruption.
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“The Africa we want can only be achieved through the diligent implementation of the provisions of the AUCPCC and state parties renewing their unalloyed commitments to it,” Hassan concluded.
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