President Muhammadu Buhari says Africa has not been able to reach its full potential because of corruption.
In a statement on Saturday, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, said Buhari made the comment at an event on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN general assembly.
He asked African leaders to fight “tirelessly” to get rid of corruption, which he said has kept the continent at the wrong end of the global development index.
“Over the years, we came to the painful realization of how deeply embedded corruption has become in our countries and continent, as well as how corrosive it can be,” he said.
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“Corruption has dwarfed our growth and tainted our nations and continent. Africa remains at the far end of development index and concerted efforts made in the last few years need to be sustained, deepened by good governance and accountability that are guided by the rule of law.
“I have strong faith that Africa and our national governments can do this with strong resolve and commitment to eliminating Illicit Financial Flows.
”We need strong partnerships from our global partners to ensure that these efforts succeed. A developed and stable Africa will not only be a global partner for peace but for sustainable development and progress.
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“We must work tirelessly to get rid of corruption or by fighting it 24/7. Our national resources must not find safe havens around the world. This fight is a necessity and not a choice to give our citizens a better life through economic prosperity, social peace and security.”
The event was co-hosted by the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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