President Muhammadu Buhari says
Nigeria is sending a notice to criminal groups by its vigorous prosecution of
the “P&ID scam attempting to cheat Nigeria”.
Speaking at the United Nations
general assembly on Tuesday, the president said his government is facing the
challenges of corruption head-on.
“Organised criminal networks,
often acting with impunity across international borders present new challenges
where only collective action can deliver genuine results,” Buhari told the
general assembly at the UN headquarters in New York.
“The present Nigerian government
is facing the challenges of corruption head-on. We are giving notice to
international criminal groups by the vigorous prosecution of the P&ID scam
attempting to cheat Nigeria of billions of dollars.
“This is true in the battle
against violent extremism, against trafficking in people and drugs and against
corruption and money laundering.”
The Nigerian government is
prosecuting officials of P&ID Nigeria, after the P&ID registered in
British Virgin Island secured a $9.6 billion award and interest against
Nigeria.
Some directors of P&ID
Nigeria pled guilty in the country only last week.
BUHARI CALLS OUT MAJOR TECH
COMPANIES
The president also called out
major tech companies, who he said were facilitating the spread of racist,
xenophobic and false messages.
“The world was shocked and
startled by the massacre in New Zealand by a lone gunman taking the lives of 50
worshippers.
“This and similar crimes which
have been fuelled by social media networks risk seeping into the fabric of an
emerging digital culture. Major tech companies must be alive to their
responsibilities.
“They cannot be allowed to
continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false
messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to
loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart.”
‘INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES
UNCOORDINATED IN DEVELOPING AFRICA’
President Buhari called on
industrial countries to take a long term view of Africa to ensure coordinated
development of the continent.
“Current attempts to help develop
Africa by industrial countries are un-coordinated and plainly incremental,”
Buhari added.
“We have the skills, the manpower
and the natural resources, but in many instances, we lack the capital – hence
my plea for industrial countries to take a long-term view of Africa. We request
you to come and partner with us to develop the continent for the benefit of
all.
“Africa charges you with the
singular task of initiating the effort we are calling for. The United Nations
has in place processes for promoting collective action to combat global
threats. No threat is more potent than poverty and exclusion.
“They are the foul source from
which common criminality, insurgency, cross border crimes, human trafficking
and its terrible consequences draw their inspiration.”
NSIP CAN ERADICATE POVERTY
The president also spoke about
the National Social Investment Programme, which he said can eventually
eliminate poverty.
“Poverty in all its
manifestations, remains one of the greatest challenges facing our world. Its
eradication is an indispensable requirement for achieving sustainable
development.”
“In this regard, Nigeria has
developed a National Social Investment Programme – a pro-poor scheme that
targets the poorest and most vulnerable households in the country.
“Under this initiative easy,
access to financial services are facilitated to our traders, artisans, market
women and co-operative societies. This type of initiative can help lessen and
eventually eliminate mass poverty in Africa.
“At the core of our efforts to
build an inclusive society, our programmes are focused on youth and women
empowerment. These programmes aim at ensuring women and youth participation in
governance, industry, climate action and agriculture.”
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