The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery (PCAR) as part of its efforts to strengthen the ongoing fight against corruption, the Minister of

Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.

Speaking while receiving the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa, Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, who paid him a courtesy visit on Friday in Abuja, the minister also called for the support of the UN in fighting corruption, which he said is as dangerous and devastating as the fight against insecurity.

He disclosed that the PCAR, which was set up on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Council Against Corruption, will over-sight the anti-corruption agenda and coordinate asset recovery process.

Alhaji Mohammed said the PCAR, which is headed by the Vice President, is coordinating the collation and categorisation of recovered assets from 2015-2016; verifying the records and status of physical assets such as buildings recovered under previous administration and setting up the framework for Management of Recovered Stolen Asset to avoid re-looting and mismanagement of asset as was experienced in the past.

He said the creation of asset register for recovered stolen assets and other government assets to avoid a situation where former or even serving public officers carry away government assets like vehicles, computers, etc., sometimes in multiples is also part of the mandate of the committee

The minister said the Federal Government is determined to recover all assets illicitly acquired by public officers and other politically exposed persons, hence new measures are underway to enhance recovery of illegally acquired assets and these will be announced from time to time.

To encourage whistle-blowers, the government is also considering an incentive framework for those who provide useful information that lead to recovery of stolen or illegally concealed public assets, he said, adding that the government is also soliciting support of Nigerians in the Diaspora and international NGOs in the campaign for asset return from foreign governments.

Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria remained determined and focused in stemming corruption, which is part of the reasons that Nigeria is suffering from economic recession.

“Just as you (UN) have supported us in the fight against insecurity in the North-east, we need your institutional, technical and diplomatic support in fighting corruption,” Alhaji Mohammed told the visiting UN official.

Speaking during the visit, Chambas commended Nigeria for the successes it has so far recorded in the fight against terrorism. He had earlier visited the North-East and is pleased with the military onslaught against Boko Haram.

“First and foremost, we will like to once again express the solidarity and the support of the United Nations for the effort of Nigeria in fighting Boko Haram terrorists. This is part of the international fight against terrorism because Boko Haram has proclaimed its allegiance and its part of the international terrorists’ network.

“So Nigeria enjoys the support and the cooperation in many technical areas relating to this fight against Boko Haram both within Nigeria and also within the Lake Chad Basin countries,” he said.

Chambas commiserated with Nigeria over the large-scale destruction and havoc wrecked on the communities by the terrorists, which led to a huge humanitarian catastrophe in the North-East, saying the UN has equally scaled-up its humanitarian activities to confront the challenge.

The UN Envoy, however, observed that as the military continues to make progress against Boko Haram, more communities that have been trapped behind the enemy lines are being liberated, thus increasing the humanitarian challenge.

He therefore appealed to international NGOs, donor agencies and development partners to complement the mobilisation of funds to bridge the funding gap in delivering humanitarian assistance to the liberated communities.

Chambas also commended the Federal Government for appointing a ministerial level coordinator for the efforts of both the government and the private sector as well as donor agencies in addressing the humanitarian challenges in the region.

•Photo shows UN Special Representative for West Africa Mohammed Ibn Chambas (left) and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Right), when Chambas paid a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja on Friday.

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