From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
A group, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has decried the increasing level of corruption which is threatening the co-existence, saying existence corruption is responsible for deplorable infrastructure, increasing poverty, insecurity unemployment and poor health.
The Executive Director of the group Reverend David Ugolor Made the assertion during a-3day training on Asset Recovery and Anti-Corruption issues in Nigeria held yesterday in Abuja.
According to him some public Office holders saddled with the responsibility of managing resources of the country misuse such power for personal gains.
He added that the situation is fast turning a vicious circle which is unacceptable, saying crime rate will be on the increase if nothing is done about corruption.
“The spate of corruption has widened the gap between the haves and have not, and a clear example of corruption in Nigeria is where one section of the Society acquires so much wealth at the expense of about 87million Nigerians living below poverty line.”He said
Speaking on the workshop Reverend Ugolor said following the return of $322.5 Million loot by Swiss Government,in 2017 ANEEJ is Monitoring the recovered Assets in Nigeria through Transparency and Accountability in the recovery and management of looted assets (MANTRA) project.
He further said ANEEJ is working with six Partners drawn from the six geo-political zones to monitor the use of the Abacha loot in the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme ( CCTP)
“Our involment in monitoring the Abacha loot is built on the fact that we are part of the MoU between Switzerland and Nigeria for the repatriation of this tranche of Abacha loot.
“This level of recognition given to a Civil Society Organization in an agreement between two soverign states is unprecedented and first of its kind globally”He stressed
Speaking on the Paper’Assessing the media Landscape in Nigeria the guest lecturer Professor Nick Idoko called on Journalists to be proud of their profession because they are very important part of the system.
Prof.Idoko tasked Journalists to be more involved in investgative Journalism, be accurate and fair in their reportage.
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