President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that the government under him is continually fighting corruption and recovering looted public funds making Nigeria too hot for corruption to come in.
The president stated this at the recovery of asset summit by the Ministry of Justice, in Abuja themed “Synergising Towards an Effective Assets Recovery and Management”.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Madugu Gagare, Tinubu said;
“Asset recovery sends a clear and unwavering message: there will be no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria. It is about restoring the people’s trust and ensuring that every kobo of our national wealth works for the common good.”
The president further decryed how negatively corruption has affected national development, especially in health, education, and infrastructure. He also noted that all funds repatriated would be reinvested into critical sectors to rebuild trust and promote equity in the country.
He stated that his government has embraced transparency in the use of recovered assets.
“Many funds have been redirected toward high-impact infrastructure projects including the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Expressway, and rural electrification schemes,” he added.
Tinubu also launched the Proceeds of Crime (Standardized Automated Asset Forfeiture Management System) Regulations, 2024, and the National Central Database of Forfeited and Recovered Assets; at the summit.
According to him, the projects introduce 1: a technology-driven process to track and 2: manage forfeited assets and created under Section 81(1) of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022; respectively, both to record all recovered assets and concluded forfeiture cases.
“These reforms are meant to ensure public oversight and foster transparency. Our government will take deliberate steps to strengthen anti-corruption institutions, enforce accountability, and ensure that justice is served—no matter whose ox is gored,” he said.
While the president thanked the United States, United Kingdom, Bailiwick of Jersey, Ireland, Switzerland, and France, for helping in recovering the stolen items and funds —he promised justice.
In his remark also, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the EFCC recovered over N248bn, $105m, and 753 duplexes, in 2024.
Over N29.7bn and $966,900 in assets were also recovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
“These assets have been reinvested into conditional cash transfers, healthcare centres, rural electrification, and key infrastructure projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund. Civil Society Organisations, including ANEEJ and the CLEEN Foundation, have been actively monitoring the use of recovered funds and publishing periodic audit reports to ensure accountability,” he said.
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