The minister of information Alhaji Lai Mohammed has revealed that between 2006 and 2013, 55 people allegedly stole a total of N1.34 trillion in Nigeria.
Out of the stolen funds, 15 former Governors allegedly stole N146.84 billion, 4 former Ministers allegedly stole N7 billion, 12 former Public Servants, both at federal and state levels, allegedly stole over N14 billion, 8 people in the Banking Industry allegedly stole N524 billion, while 11 businessmen allegedly stole N653 billion.
Speaking on Monday while kick-starting the National Sensitization Campaign Against Corruption at a press conference in Abuja, the minister appealed to the media to join hands with it in sensitizing Nigerians to the damage that corruption has done to the nation, warning that unless Nigeria kills corruption, the vice is capable of killing Nigeria.
“Thanks to the support we have received from the media, especially in this (National Security) Sensitization Campaign, I can now tell you that Nigerians have taken ownership of the war against terrorism and are also giving their undiluted support to our gallant military. I commend the media for heeding our patriotic call to duty at a critical time in the life of our nation,” Mohammed said.
“Gentlemen, we are here today because of another patriotic call to duty. We want the media to once again lead the campaign to sensitize Nigerians to take possession of another war – the war against corruption,” he said.
The Minister said Nigerians must be made to know the damage that corruption “has done to our nation, our people and our international image, how corruption stifles economic growth, hinders the fight against poverty, leads to decay in infrastructure and reduces educational standards, lowers life expectancy, stunts the fight against maternal and infant mortality and impacts negatively on the general livelihood of the citizens. No one is better placed than you, the media, to lead this charge.”
