Nigeria seeks outlawing of safe havens for loot

Nigeria has called for the elimination of safe havens for stolen assets and illicit financial flows to free up resources for sustainable development.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the nation’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Tijjani Bande, made the appeal in New York.

He spoke during an ‘Interactive Dialogue for Sustainable Development’ at the Economic and Financial Committee of the UN General Assembly.

The envoy therefore called for unconditional return of such assets and funds to their countries of origin.

Bande said: “In this regard, it is important that safe havens that create incentives for the transfer of stolen assets and illicit financial flows abroad are eliminated.

“The return of such assets and funds will certainly aid our ongoing sustainable development efforts.”

He said Nigeria believes that sustainable development requires the galvanisation of urgent common efforts, a reinvigorated global partnership and an enabling environment at all levels.

The ambassador sought the creation of appropriate global partnerships for development.

Bande pointed out the concerns expressed in the report of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, particularly in relation to the slow progress rate of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sub-Sahara Africa.

According to him, Nigeria remains committed to translating the SDGs into reality, in a balanced and integrated manner.

To enhance the legislative oversight on the their implementation processes, he said two committees had been established in both the Senate and House of Representatives.