Kaduna — The African Diaspora Initiative (ADI) says Nigeria will recover a whopping $400 billion looted public funds if the Federal Government grants unconditional amnesty to present and former government officials willing to repatriate such funds from foreign countries.
According to the ADI Director-General, David Okoror, "the enormous benefits to the Nigerian economy were Nigeria to recover and invest just a quarter of its assets domiciled abroad is best imagined."
He spoke yesterday at the opening ceremony of a training course on Countering Financial Crimes, Money Laundering and Corrupt Practices in Nigeria, organised by ADI in Kaduna
He said: "Only $100 billion dollars would translate to about N15 trillion when the 2010 federal budget is put at about N4.5 trillion.
"Let us reflect for a moment on the possible impact that N15 trillion can have on Nigeria's comatose transportation infrastructure, power supply, security, energy, water supply, education, healthcare, housing and the quality of life of the long suffering people of Nigeria.
"The concept of voluntary repatriation means that Nigerians who have assets domiciled in other jurisdictions can be granted unconditional amnesty and persuaded to repatriate such assets."
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This is a great idea and i do hope it's implementation is observed,the benefit of this to nigerians can't be over emphasied. Together we can build a new and enviable Nigeria.
This is long overdue. This action should not be partial; no sacred cows. This action must include Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku Abubakar, etc. These guys became stinkingly rich in office where millions of Nigerians suffer in abject poverty; yet they want to come back and rule again. Only in the third world would they remain free. Shame!
This may be good idea only if Babangida,Atiku and a host of other thieves are held to account for their loots.Nigeria can not be whole until these robbers are behind bars for their crimes.It is only in Nigeria however, can these hitlers be allowed to roam the streets of Nigeria with inpunity.They must pay for what they did to Nigeria no matter how long it takes or their sins will visit their children and their grandchildren plus their greatgrandchildren.
Nigeria seems to be a country heading towards its doom.She has as a sign of her identity bribery,coruption,stealing of public funds,money laundering and lack of law and governace.Any normal mind cannot imagine the sum of 400 billion US dollars being stolen from public funds by a group of dubes who happen to be high government functionaries while 90% of its population live on about 2 USdollars a day. The unfortunate thing is that this 'disease"has eaten deep into the ranks and files of of the society for decades now,up to the extent the foreign companies and paristatals also join the band-wagon going to confirm the popular saying "when you are in Rome you act as the Romans" All these are a result of adamant lack of good governace. The population of Nigeria today stands at about 150 million or more and I want to believe that in here there are some 100-500 thousand true Nigerian with no corupt mind who wants to see Nigeria vibrant and respected internationally.The ball is in our court. It is now or never!.