The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) has urged anti-corruption stakeholders to increase anti-corruption activities in order to promote anti-corruption education and empower future generations to maintain integrity across the board and around the world.
The UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Oliver Stolpe made the call at this year’s commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day, in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
The impact of corruption has threaten the security and crumbled economy of nations, drives organised crime and blocks opportunities for development.
The world today faces some of its greatest challenges in many generations – challenges which threaten prosperity and stability for people across the globe, including in Nigeria.
These challenges have enclosed people in cycles of inequality and poverty, financial uncertainty continue to grow with escalating conflicts, and climate disasters.
To this effect, Dr. Oliver Stolpe, said there was an urgent need to end corruption.
He noted that his organisation was renewing its partnership between Nigeria with new anti-corruption projects.
Dr. Stolpe, commended Nigeria for its fight against corruption.
According to Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, who was represented by Nigeria’s Solicitor General, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the fight against corruption was an inclusive and collective fight.
Malami, further reiterated the need for all stakeholders at all levels of government to continue to take necessary actions to promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption more effective.
“I also wish to encourage the international community and development partners to continue to promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and the fight against corruption including assets recovery,” he reiterated.
Nigeria ratified the Convention in 2004 and has been reviewed twice since the Conference of State Parties to the Convention established the Implementation Review Mechanism in 2009.
The UNODC Country Office in Nigeria, in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders, has prepared a report which takes stock of Nigeria’s follow up to the 2014 and 2019 UNCAC implementation reviews.
The full report will be presented on 14 December at an event at the UN house in Abuja.
This year’s commemoration is with the theme “Uniting the World Against Corruption for Development, Peace and Security”.
