Pro-democracy research think tank, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), on Thursday stated that corruption constituted a serious impediment to growth and development in Nigeria.
The group noted that monies meant to deliver on key socio-development and economic projects were being siphoned, thereby worsening the cases of hunger, poverty, and starvation.
CDD in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters added that Nigerians would suffer more from the consequences of corruption, without a firm and impartial attitude toward it.
The CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, according to the release, stated this in commemoration of the International Anti-corruption Day themed “Your right, your role: say no to corruption.”
“Corruption has continued to constitute a serious impediment to growth and development as monies meant to deliver on key socio-development and economic projects are being siphoned, thereby worsening the cases of hunger, poverty, and starvation.
“All forms of kickbacks, bribes, contract inflation, inducement, budget padding, and any other small or large scale official or unofficial embezzlement are deemed act of corruption and should be jettisoned and replaced with a national culture of transparency, accountability, and probity.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has further created vulnerabilities to corruption, as the fang of hunger and starvation bites harder because of the lockdown, travel ban, and because of the continued shrinking in economic recourses.
“The pro-democracy, policy, and research body, said more worrying was the federal government’s lack of response to suspected instances of monumental corruption like the recent revelations involving the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs.
“CDD believes that without a firm and impartial attitude toward corruption, Nigerians will suffer even more from the consequences of corruption. With the Covid-19 pandemic still raging and recovery efforts being pieced together, addressing corruption will be key to the success of the recovery efforts,” the statement added.
