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UN Gives Nigeria Advice on Anti-Corruption War
UN Gives Nigeria Advice on Anti-Corruption War
By Michael Mike
The United Nations has prescribed more ways to give bites to Nigeria’s anti-corruption war.
A statement on Thursday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) while commending the country for the success recorded so far in it’s anti-corruption war, noted that there are rooms for improvements and more successes.
The UNODC had brought together government agencies, civil society organisations, the media and youth groups involved in the fight against corruption to discuss progress made in the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
In order to facilitate the dialogue, UNODC had presented the preliminary findings of a study it conducted over the past months through extensive consultation with anti-corruption agencies and other relevant stakeholders to assess the efforts undertaken by Nigeria to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Review Mechanism.
Following ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2004 and establishment of the Review Mechanism in 2009, Nigeria has undergone two reviews for its implementation of the Convention. The first review was carried out in 2014 by Lesotho and Montenegro, while the second review was completed by Cote d’Ivoire and Myanmar in 2019.
The 2014 and 2019 review reports contained a total of 65 recommendations. The study found that Nigeria had made progress in implementing 51 of the 65 recommendations, with the greatest strides being made in the area of asset recovery.
The UNODC also suggested a set of targeted actions for Nigeria to fast-track the follow up to some of the pending review recommendations. These actions include, for example, harmonizing the collection of anti-corruption data, instituting more regular coordination meetings among heads of anti-corruption agencies, and accelerating the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
The presentation of the preliminary findings of the study was followed by a high-level panel discussion with the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba; Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa; Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Professor Isah Mohammed; Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Sadiq Radah; Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch, Ambassador Ifeyinwa Angela Nworgu; Founder and Executive Director of Agora Policy, Mr. Waziri Adio;
and Member of the European Union Youth Sounding Board, Mr. Mubarak Idris.
The panelists discussed the findings of the study and suggested ways for Nigeria to further enhance the impact of its anti-corruption investments.
Mrs. Jedy-Agba outlined how her Ministry is working to improve coordination across Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies through the establishment of an inter-ministerial body overseeing and coordinating the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
Bawa identified some of the drivers behind his agency’s recent successes in securing a rapidly growing number of convictions, from 195 in 2016 to 3,615 in 2022 so far.
He explained that the EFCC had invested significant resources in training and equipping its staff adequately, while also developing new policy documents and Standard Operating Procedures to increase internal coordination and efficiency.
Professor Mohammed emphasized the benefits of digitizing and automating asset declarations by public officials, which are currently conducted through face-to-face interviews. In his view, phasing out human interactions would fast track declaration processes, free up human resources and provide greater confidentiality for the disclosure of sensitive information.
Professor Radah of PACAC praised Nigeria for its successful recovery of ill-gotten assets, though he emphasized the need for continued improvement in this area. He insisted that “asset recovery is key to ensure that crooks never benefit from the proceeds of crime”
Idris stressed the importance of investing recovered assets in youth-focused projects. As a youth representative, he explained that the effective reduction in corruption would be critical for young people to have increased confidence in Government.
With respect to the UNCAC review recommendations, Adio pointed out that “anything that is not assigned rarely gets done”. Thus, he argued that an effective way to strengthen implementation is to clearly assign recommendations to specific anti-corruption bodies.
Ambassador Nworgu recognized the anti-corruption efforts undertaken by the Federal Government, while calling for greater engagement with State and local governments in this regard.
Supporting Nigeria in the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), with a view to safeguarding people, institutions and the economy from corruption and illicit financial flows is a key priority area for UNODC’s work in Nigeria, as laid out its 2030 Strategic Vision for Nigeria. It has also been identified as one of the transformative initiatives in the newly adopted 2023-2027 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Nigeria.
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.
Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.
She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.
According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.
She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.
“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.
“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.
While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.
She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.
The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.
“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.
Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.
Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.
She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.
The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Senior Government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have today met in Abuja to assess the vibrant economic partnership between the two parties and chart a way forward.
The inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, and Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), Ms Dora Correia,
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot,, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue, which they said underscored the growing importance attached to trade and investment in the EU-Nigeria partnership.
This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Discussions focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements, preferential trade and investment arrangements, investment, collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulatory measures that could impact trade and investment, and the identification of trade and investment-related development cooperation areas.
Both sides expressed their interest to continue the Dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion.
Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960.
He urged Nigerians to further keep faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.
The Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.
He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.
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