FREEPRESS – Following the widespread criticisms that have greeted the frequent foreign travels embarked upon by President Muhammadu Buhari, which have in some quarters earned him the moniker, junketer-in-chief, the presidency has explained that such journeys should not be seen as a jamboree, insisting that they are for the good of the country.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, told State House correspondents yesterday that his principal’s numerous trips outside the country were informed by the need to block all safe havens for funds looted from Nigeria.
He recounted that Buhari’s travels have led to agreements with various countries on recovery and repatriation of stolen funds, revealing that top security officials in the country would, in the next one week, travel to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, to further actualize an agreement on recovery and repatriation of stolen funds.
According to Shehu, “You also see gradually the strategic efforts to go after the stolen funds abroad. The UAE is very important to the country.
“Don’t be surprised that in the coming week or two, you will have high level security officials leaving Nigeria for the UAE to begin to give expression to our wish to enjoy this new cooperation between the two countries with a view to recovering stolen assets.
“There are numerous agreements we have also signed with them: Drugs, human trafficking and stolen assets that have been taken abroad. So, the President wants to make it difficult for people, even when they steal from Nigeria, there would be no hiding place for stolen assets.”
About The Author
