Buhari promises to be tougher with corruption, insecurity

By Tanko Mohammed

President Muhammadu Buhari is not happy with the spike in cases of corruption and insecurity and vowed to devote more resources to ensure a graft-free and peaceful Nigeria.

President Buhari on Friday in Abuja reacted for the first time on the allegations of corruption levelled against the leaderships of some Federal Government Agencies and Commissions and the increasing cases of insecurity.

The president, who spoke after observing his Eid prayers at the fore court of the presidential villa, observed that some appointees of the government in both his administration and the previous one have abused their trust.

He, however, expressed delight that some stolen assets are being recovered, sold and proceeds put into the Single Treasury Account (TSA), which is inaccessible to the corrupt persons involved.

When asked how he felt about recent revelations coming out from the EFCC and the NDDC, President Buhari said:

“There has been abuse of trust by people trusted by previous administration and this administration.

“A number of assets have been recovered and some money.

“But we have introduced TSA where all the monies are taken and I said asset should be sold and the money be put through TSA so that it can be identified at any level and I will see who will come after us and take it back again to those who misappropriated public funds.”

While assuring that all past and present cases would be fully investigated, he said: “This is why we put the commission (of investigation) in place.”

He stressed that all of such cases would be uncovered and firmly dealt with by his government.

Buhari gave the assurances that there will be more resources for the military, police and other security agencies to deal with the unwanted security situation in some parts of the country.

He described the security situation, particularly in the North West and the North Central parts of the country as “very disturbing”.

President Buhari said that while much had been achieved, security wise, from the situation he inherited in 2015, more still needed to be done.

He said considering the security situation on ground when he came to office, “Nigerians know that we have done our best.

“However, what is coming out of the North West and the North Central is very disturbing.”

Service Chiefs, he said needed to get better and said: “We are making available resources to them to even do better. “From the reports I am getting, they could do much better…they could do much better.

“But we are keeping them on the alert all the time to do their duties,” he added.

On the issue of corruption, President Buhari also assured that all past and present cases would be fully investigated.

“This is why we put the commission (of investigation) in place. There has been abuse of trust by people trusted by the previous administration and this administration,” he said.

He stressed that all of such cases would be uncovered and firmly dealt with by his government.

On the specific case of the Niger Delta, the President decried the wastage of the resources earmarked for the betterment of the lives of the people of that region.

He lamented that corruption had been unhelpful in that regard, especially “if you recall there is the 13 per cent derivation.”

He also warned against the vandalization of oil pipelines in the oil- producing areas which often results in environmental pollution.

“Those who are blowing pipelines and interfering with the production of petroleum products are hurting their people more than the rest of Nigerians because majority of their people are fishermen, fisherwomen and farmers.

“Now if they pollute the land and the waters, the fish goes into the deeper sea where the people cannot go and they cannot grow anything.

“They are hurting their immediate communities more than any other thing,” the President further noted.