Buhari to use his UN address to request that foreign governments return looted Nigerian funds

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is using the occasion of his visit to the United Nations (UN) in New York to press world leaders to expedite action on the repatriation of looted Nigerian funds stashed away in their countries.

Earlier this week, President Buhari flew into New York, where he is one of the speakers at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. In his speech due to be presented later today, President Buhari will express concern that despite strenuous efforts to retrieve monies stashed away in various foreign bank accounts in Europe and America in particular, governments were reluctant to  assist his administration in repatriating them.

In addition, the president is also said not be happy that the foreign governments are introducing various technicalities which have caused a slowdown in the effort to recover the monies. Despite the ongoing anti-corruption war in the country, some governments are said to be demanding for firm guarantees that the monies if retrieved, would not be re-looted by corrupt officials in the country.

President Buhari is therefore expected to highlight his administration’s efforts and successes at rooting out corruption and stressing the need for the world leaders to heed the call to facilitate the repatriation of the money to enable government to deploy them to development needs of the country. One top government official said that the administration believes that foreign governments have no reason to continue to retain the looted funds because President Buhari has demonstrated his seriousness in tackling endemic corruption since his assumption of office.

In addition, President Buhari will also speak to the world leaders on his administration’s effort to meet its flagship objectives of reviving the Nigerian economy and curtailing insecurity. Also, President Buhari would join other world leaders at the welcoming reception to be hosted by the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres who he would later hold a bilateral meeting with.

Furthermore, President Buhari will also hold a lunch meeting with President Donald Trump of the US, along with other world leaders. At the events, President Buhari and members of his delegation will strive to project Nigeria as a strong moral force and responsible member of the international community.