We’ll Punish Treasury Looters To Deter Others –Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday
in New Delhi reaffirmed his administration’s
commitment to curbing corruption, plugging all
loopholes in public sector accounting and
deploying available resources for the good of
all Nigerians.

In a statement, the president’s Special Adviser
on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said
President Buhari stated this while addressing
members of the Nigerian community in India.
According to the president, the recovery of
stolen funds and prosecution of persons, who
have been indicted for corrupt practices, will
also continue to be vigorously pursued.
The president said that he expected the ongoing
recoveries and prosecutions to serve as “a
deterrent to others who nurse the ambition of
seeking public office solely for illegal personal
gain”.
He assured that his administration fully
recognised the devastating consequences of the
illegal diversion of public resources meant for
national development into private bank
accounts, and was doing all within its powers
to stop such diversions.
“The anti-corruption campaign will be on-going
for many years.
“We are committed to the enthronement of
good governance that plugs the loopholes in
public sector accounting, and the use of scarce
resources for public good.
“We are determined to demonstrate exemplary
leadership that will make our citizens to
change their ways in a manner that lays a solid
foundation for reconstruction and development.
“I am confident that our approach to fighting
corruption through value re-orientation,
improved internal processes and systems and
the rule of law, as well as enhancing the
capacity of the various anti-corruption agencies
and institutions will prove more enduring in
addressing this evil.
“In the meantime, we will continue to
prosecute those who have been indicted for
corrupt practices and ensure that stolen funds
are recovered, to serve as deterrence to others
who nurse the ambition of seeking public office
solely for illegal personal gain,’’ he added.
The president stated that he was fully aware of
the expectations of Nigerians who elected him
on the platform of change, integrity, probity
and accountability, and was therefore doing his
utmost best to meet those expectations.
“I wish to assure you that we shall do our best
to fix the economy, create jobs for the teeming
population of our youths and make the home
environment safe, secure and more attractive
to Nigerians outside the country like your good
selves.
“On the economy, our aim is to address the
challenge of infrastructure in all its
ramifications, especially power and
transportation.’’
Mr. Buhari reiterated the determination of his
administration to create jobs through
agriculture, mining, industrial value-addition
and the promotion of small scale enterprises.
He further disclosed that Federal Government
was also taking steps to address criminality
across the country.
“We are tackling the menace of terrorism posed
by Boko Haram head on and I am pleased to
note that though sporadic attacks on soft
targets have not stopped, the over-all capacity
of Boko Haram to hold territory and determine
the course of the conflict has been severely
degraded.
“If the current positive trends are maintained,
we are confident that by the end of this year,
we would have succeeded in permanently
turning the tide against the Boko Haram
insurgents in Nigeria,’’ he said.