The issue of corruption remains a major challenge to the Nigerian system and it is up to the government to prosecute some influential corrupt officials for the nation to move forward.
These were the suggestions made by the US Consular General, Mr Jeffrey Hawkins, when he played a special visit to the corporate headquarters of Channels Television, in Lagos on Wednesday.
In an interview with our correspondent Adesewa Josh, Mr Hawkins reiterated the US commitment to the nation, and pointed out the role of government in tackling corruption.
Mr Hawkins noted that the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission which was signed about two years ago is set to help strengthen institutions of government in the country so that Nigeria realizes her long term goal of reducing corruption but he noted that “the Nigerian government, itself will have to take the most important step of prosecuting some influential officials.”
According to the US envoy, the world largest economy prosecuted 1,100 officials in the outgoing year; he therefore urged the Nigerian government and its people to do the needful by fighting corruption to move the nation forward in a bid to achieve its full potentials.
He also stated that there are four working groups of the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission and that one of them is mainly focused on transparency and fight against corruption.
