NAN-H-61
Corruption
Abuja, Nov. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has called on EU members to support its efforts in the fight against corruption by making it difficult to lodge illicit assets from Nigeria in their countries.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olusola Enikanolaye, made the call on Friday in Abuja at the fourth session of Nigeria-European Human Right Dialogue.
Enikaonolaye expressed concern that the illicit financial assets harboured abroad in safe haven invariably denied Nigerians the enjoyment of their national wealth.
“The present administration is fighting corruption head-long on the basis of the rule of law and reforming our own internal system and processes for us to make the fight sustainable.
“I urge friends and countries like yours who harboured these illicit assets to assist us in discouraging and defeating corruption and returning all ill gotten assets.
“And making it more difficult for these assets to be lodged abroad,” he said.
The permanent secretary commended the EU for its support to Nigeria during the 2015 general elections.
Enikanolaye assured that the Federal Government would continue to ensure that Independent National Electoral Commission improved on its capability to deliver better election outcomes at all levels.
“In our diplomatic pursuit, the promotion of human right and democracy are the foremost guiding principles of Nigerian foreign policy delivery since independence.
“Nigeria achieved a major mile stone in our quest to enthrone human right by successfully carrying out of the comprehensive review of the human right commission act.
“By the provision of the act, the national human right commission is now truly independent more than ever before to pursue its agenda for the protection and promotion of human right in Nigeria.
“Furthermore, women’s right- women protection is one of the major priority areas for continuous inclusion in Nigerian development planning and programme,” he said.
Michel Arrion, the Head of EU delegation to Nigeria expressed concern on the non implementation of human rights in the country.
“Nigeria is signatory to many international human right instruments and has passed and enacted important laws in the field of human right.
“Implementation and fulfilment of the obligation of women in this legal responsibility remain a challenge when security forces are involved,” he said.
He urged the meeting to work on how to achieve gender equal opportunity, and women empowerment issue as well as ending violence against women. (NAN)
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Edited by Grace Yussuf