Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Tuesday, called for collective responsibility to chart the course for peace and security in the country.
Malami made the call in his address at the 10th Annual Conference of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) in Abuja.
The two – day conference is based on the need to support and complement the Government’s efforts at all levels to address the challenges confronting African countries, particularly Nigeria.
Malami, who is also Attorney General of the Federation, was represented by Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Senior Assistant to President on Justice Reform and International Relations.
The minister said the theme of the conference which is tagged Insecurity and Corruption: Implications for Development in Africa was timely.
He said the conference in line with President Mohammadu Buhari ‘s administration policy thrust on the protection of the lives and properties of Nigerians and revitalizing the economy and entrenching transparency in governance.
The minister noted that so far significant progress had been made in tackling corruption and insecurity.
He, however, said that a lot of work needed to be done in order to build a sustainable approach and enduring institution.
” There is no doubt that high-level corruption fuel insecurity and leads to a weak economy, it is against this backdrop that President Buhari in 2015 took steps to tackle corruption and insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that closure of Nigeria borders is one of those measures the Federal Government used to check insecurity in the Country.
He said Law enforcement agents and military personnel have also been trained to deal with the emerging security threats in the Country.
On recovery of Funds, the minister noted that the Whistleblower Bill has also helped the Federal Government to recover funds, as well as assets.
” The Government has made a policy of following the money which is said a cardinal principle in the recovery and embezzlement of funds.
” I must say that government has taken steps in recovering funds of illicit origins,” he said.
He said the funds recovered has been paid into the Federation accounts and were being used to fund the National budget.
Speaking in the same vein, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari, called for collective efforts in fighting corruption and insecurity.
Abari, who was represented by Mr Davidson Aminu, NOA Director, Publication and Documentation, said that without peace, there would be no development.
