PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the industrialised world to strengthen mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for proceeds of corruption in a bid to combat the scourge of African politicians stashing stolen loot abroad. 

Speaking yesterday at the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, President Buhari called on the international community to help his government fight corruption. Since assuming office on May 29, President Buhari has made eliminating graft and recovering Nigeria's stolen wealth a major priority. 

In a 20 minute address, President Buhari also urged his counterparts to do more to return stolen funds and assets to their countries of origin. He pointed out that corruption, cross-border financial crimes, cyber crimes and human trafficking were major challenges of the 21st century, which the international community must work collectively to overcome. 

During the address, the president also reassured the international community that rescuing the Chibok girls remained one of the major objectives of his administration. He also proposed the adoption of peace as a seventh essential element of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted last Friday. 

President Buhari said: “Let me reaffirm the Nigerian government’s unwavering commitment to fight corruption and illicit financial flows. By any consideration, corruption and cross border financial crimes are impediments to development, economic growth, and the realisation of the well-being of citizens across the globe.

 “Nigeria is ready and willing to partner with international agencies and individual countries on a bilateral basis to confront crimes and corruption. In particular, I call upon the global community to urgently redouble efforts towards strengthening the mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for proceeds of corruption and ensuring the return of stolen funds and assets to their countries of origin.” 

He also informed the global community that his administration was doing all within its powers to quickly overcome the challenge of terrorism and insecurity. In addition, President Buhari also condemned the new and dangerous dimension which human trafficking had assumed in the world. 

“We are working round the clock to ensure their safety and eventual reunion with their families as the girls are constantly on our minds and in our plans. Peace is close to the hearts of Nigerians, as we are in the front line in the war on terror. Boko Haram’s war against the people of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon may not attract as much worldwide attention as the wars in the Middle East but the suffering is just as great and the human cost is equally high. 

“This is a war between progress and chaos, between democracy and the rule of law. Boko Haram celebrates violence against the weak and the innocent and deplorably, they hide behind their perverted interpretation of Islam but Boko Haram is as far away from Islam as anyone can think of,” President Buhari said.

 Reminding the global assembly that peaceful co-existence and self-determination were among the key principles that led to the establishment of the United Nations, President Buhari called for the urgent resolution of the question of self-determination for the people of Palestine and Western Sahara. President Buhari’s pronouncement on the quest for statehood by Palestine was a return by Nigeria in support of the two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. 

Palestine last December lost its bid for statehood when Nigeria chose to abstain from voting on a crucial resolution of the UN Security Council on the issue. Former President Goodluck Jonathan threw his support behind Israel’s opposition to the resolution following the country’s support in the war against Boko Haram.