“It is still worrisome considering that billions of dollars, great talents and professionals are continually drained out of the continent through various corrupt activities thus causing poor investment inflows, undermining the rule of law, stifling trade, worsening macro-economic conditions and escalating level of poverty in our countries,” he said.
“These detestable practices are being perpetrated by some international collaborators hiding in secret jurisdictions.”
President Buhari, while addressing a High-Level Roundtable on Corruption, Migration, Bridging Africa’s Infrastructural Gap for Sustainable Development organised by NEPAD/APRM Nigeria on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, today, Friday, further expressed regret that huge amounts of funds are still being squirreled out of the continent.
He however, expressed delight that “efforts are being made by African leaders to ensure greater transparency and accountability in government business, fostering regional integration as well as creating enabling environment for our youth,” stressing that “these efforts will remain unabated, as African leaders will remain unrelenting.
“We must adopt laws, regulations and policies that encourage transparent financial transactions, youth and women’s empowerment programmes as well as establishing good infrastructural links among member states towards sanitizing the continent of these ills.”
President Buhari described the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as a strategic framework document designed for the socio-economic development of Africa and a policy framework to address our economic and social challenges, even as he implored his colleagues to eradicate poverty; place African countries on a path of sustainable growth and development; halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process; enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy and; accelerate the empowerment of women and youth.
