UK no longer safe for looters –Envoy

In from Olumide Olaoluwa … .
The United Kingdom (UK) is no longer a safe haven for looters of African resources and treasury, the UK Minister for Africa and Department for International Development, (DFID), Hon Grant Shapps has said.
Shapps said corruption, money laundering and culture of impunity have done incalculable damage to Africa development so much that the UK government has to protect the integrity of its financial system by exposing those who want to cart away the resources of the continent.
He assured the UK government would provide all the necessary support for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for taking the lead in fighting corruption in the continent.
The envoy spoke on Tuesday at Government House, Kaduna during the launch of a $100 million public sector accountability and governance programme initiated by the UK government to support Nigeria in its development agenda.

Read also: Obj leads Colombian terror experts to Buhari (Photos)

According to him: “Corruption in Nigeria also affects the UK directly. Where we have evidence, we will continue to take action to protect the integrity of the UK’s financial system and prevent its use for money laundering purposes.”
Addressing the gathering which included the representatives of Kano and Jigawa state governments, the Minister said: “Nigeria matters to the UK.
“We will continue to provide capacity building and technical and investigative support to Nigeria to tackle corruption and are scaling up this support.
“Corruption takes away public trust in public officials and government institutions.
“Corruption distorts competitive markets and lead to reallocation of resources. If not tackled, corruption on a grand scale, and those that practice it, will ultimately destroy Nigeria.”

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now