The U.S. Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, on Monday said the world lost 2.6 trillion dollars to corruption annually.
Kerry made this known when he visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, in his palace in Sokoto on Tuesday.
He said that the money being lost to corruption across the world was enough to provide decent livelihood for people.
”This is money that can be used to improve the living standard and provide decent livelihoods for them.
“Corruption is not only a crime, but very dangerous and it must be tamed,” he said.
Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts in fighting corruption in Nigeria, Kerry pointed out that corrupt officials, anywhere in the world, were crooks.
He said that Buhari understood the danger of corruption in a country, and that Nigeria was already a regional leader in the fight against corruption.
”Nigeria is also a role model in the ongoing global efforts to fight corruption,” he stated, and acknowledged measures being applied by Buhari to entrench morality, transparency, honesty and good governance in the country.
Kerry particularly commended the Federal Government for its efforts at recovering stolen funds, stressing that there was need for all government institutions, including military, other security agencies and the judiciary, to support the anti-corruption campaign.
”U.S. is also fully committed to fighting corruption and the entrenchment of good governance globally.
”One of Nigeria’s strength is diversity of culture and religious tolerance.
”The former leaders of the defunct Sokoto caliphate and others like the late Sir Ahmadu Bello had stood by the virtues of peace, unity and tolerance,” he said.
On insurgency in Nigeria, Kerry also commended the government determination to combat the menace and other crimes across the country.
Condemning terrorism in the country, he said “Boko Haram boasts no agenda more than to burn schools.
” They also kill and maim people, especially teachers, and it is the opposite of any religion.”
He said that the U.S. was deeply committed to working with partners like Nigeria to build counter-terrorism capacities, disclosing that his government had worked out counter-terrorism strategies that would be implemented globally.
The envoy commended the sultan for his relentless efforts at entrenching peace and unity in Nigeria and beyond.
He lauded the plan by the sultanate council to establish an all-women university, saying that girls, women, children and other vulnerable groups “must be educated, given jobs and opportunities to explore their potential’’.
In his remarks, the Sultan commended Kerry for the visit and his ”inspiring speech” and said that the gesture would encourage “us to redouble our efforts for a stronger, united and prosperous Nigeria’’. (NAN)
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