Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has raised concerns about the pervasive corruption in Nigeria, labeling it a major challenge for the nation.
Ndume made these remarks during an interactive session with journalists in Kano on Saturday.
“Our major challenge in this country is corruption. To date, we have no law that can proactively or reactively address the issue of corruption. If you find someone within our system, especially in politics or government, who is not corrupt, it is because he is fortunate enough to be God-fearing.
“Otherwise, it is only in Nigeria that you can steal money, walk freely, and be celebrated. If you visit an area like this, people will start lobbying and prostrating before you, even when they know the money was stolen.
“In this country, someone who had no money yesterday or last week can suddenly buy ten cars and jets, and his family will celebrate him,” he stated.
The senator noted that in developed countries, people would inquire about how, when, and where an individual acquired their wealth, but the situation is different in Nigeria.
Ndume pointed out that multiple efforts to enact a law addressing unexplained wealth in Nigeria have faced obstacles. He mentioned that he had once asked a former president to sign an Executive Bill, but the request was declined.
“To this day, there is no Unexplained Wealth Act in Nigeria, and no Executive Order addressing it,” Ndume emphasized.
He also expressed his concerns regarding hunger in the country, advocating for increased cultivation of food crops to address the issue.
“There is hunger in the land, and to date, we have not cultivated even five percent of our land. Nigeria is blessed with vast arable land.”
According to him, Nigeria possesses fertile land throughout the country that could be utilized for growing food crops tonourish the population.
