The Presidency has stated that aside going after Nigeria’s stolen resources outside the country in a bid to reclaim them, President Muhammadu Buhari is also determined to recover government assets still in the hands of officials of the immediate past government.
Some looted funds have so far, been traced to Switzerlandand the United States of America.
Presidential sources, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that a number of former government officials were still in possession of vehicles, buildings, generator sets and other entitlements that came with their previous positions.
“Despite vacating their offices almost three months ago, many are yet to return these government properties,” one of the sources said.
The official stated that the attitude of the former aides induced the president’s decision to set up a committee made up of civil servants and security agents, to recover public assets from former political appointees still holding on to them.
Confirming the development, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “That is precisely the case. Even here at the Villa, there are cars and other property belonging to the government, which are yet to be returned.”
Shehu, however, assured that the aim was not to embarrass anyone, adding that the Buhari administration would soon begin to demand for the return of the assets because they belong to government.
“The properties belong to the Nigerian people. We are not trying to humiliate anyone by asking them to return their cars or houses”, he said.
On whether state and local governments were facing similar challenges, he said he was not in a position to confirm or deny this. However, he stated that he would not be surprised if that was the case, as the attitude of holding on to government property even after leaving office, must be a natural outcome of the culture of impunity that had prevailed in the country over the years of PDP’s rule.
He reiterated President Buhari’s commitment to running an austere government that would save the Nigerian people millions of naira in public funds, saying: “Imagine how much the country would save by retrieving and re-using these government properties instead of purchasing new ones for new government officials.” The Sun
