Senator calls on FG to grant
amnesty to treasury looters
– Senator Bassey Akpan called on
the federal government to
“declare amnesty on stolen
money”
– According to him, every
Nigerian that has taken money
out of this country should be
given amnesty to bring back the
money and invest in the country
– Describing the current pains of
Nigerians as unnecessary, the
senator expressed assurance that
the government has what it takes
to turn around the economy
Senator Bassey Akpan
Bassey Akpan, the chairman of the Senate
committee on gas, has said that owners of Nigeria’s
stolen money stashed in the various banks all over
the world should be granted special amnesty.
Akpan expressed his opinion on Monday, May
23, while addressing journalists in his office, The
Punch reports.
The senator said that Nigeria has hundreds of
billions of dollars stashed in various banks abroad.
However, the countries where the stolen money kept
are using them to drive their own economy, while
Nigerians are suffering.
“The time has come when we have to
think outside the box and my own
position is this, it is possible that the
government can declare amnesty on
stolen money. Let every Nigerian that
has taken money out of this country
be given amnesty to bring back the
money and invest in the country.”
“When owners of the Nigeria’s
stolen foreign currencies bring them
back to the country as a result of the
amnesty, a lot of foreign exchange
can be generated to fund our local
consumption and we can set target,”
he said.
Akpan said those who had stolen the nation’s money
should be encouraged to bring it back and invest in
Nigeria’s economy.
Describing the current pains as unnecessary, the
senator expressed assurance that the federal
government has what it takes to turn around the
economy.
“Why are we suffering in the midst of
plenty? Amnesty was created for
militancy, we should create amnesty
for anybody that has taken money
outside this country so that they can
invest them in the country. We can
generate a hundred billion dollar in
the process in less than six months.
“We need enough forex to fund our
importation, rebuild our industries,
establish capacity locally and import
raw materials for industries before
thinking of exporting finished
products. Where we are as a country
now, we should begin to look
inward,” he noted.
Akpan stressed that the government should not only
fight corruption, but let its battle yield the
appropriate results.
“Our economy based on the
statistics available to us has gone
into full blown recession. There is
reduction in revenue collection based
on the basis of oil export because of
the dwindling global oil crisis.
“The cost of producing a barrel of
crude in Nigeria is about $35 per
barrel and it is being sold for $48.
That means that as a country we
earn less than $13 per barrel.
“Countries like Saudi Arabia, and Iran
and other co-OPEC countries had
fallen back on their quantity to meet
up their demands but in Nigeria,
where we are losing 800 barrels of
oil per day when we are also
supposed to be boosting our
production. We are expected to use
income from oil to develop other
sectors of the economy,” he said.
Recalling that some countries had done it in the
past, Akpan concluded that Nigeria also needs to
grant amnesty to those who are in possession of
stolen funds as the country urgently needs money for
development.
Meanwhile, David Cameron, the prime minister of
the United Kingdom, has revealed the plan to
speed up international efforts on asset recovery for
Nigeria.
According to him, a new plan will stop corrupt
individuals and countries from moving, laundering and
hiding illicit funds through London’s property
market.
amnesty to treasury looters
– Senator Bassey Akpan called on
the federal government to
“declare amnesty on stolen
money”
– According to him, every
Nigerian that has taken money
out of this country should be
given amnesty to bring back the
money and invest in the country
– Describing the current pains of
Nigerians as unnecessary, the
senator expressed assurance that
the government has what it takes
to turn around the economy
Senator Bassey Akpan
Bassey Akpan, the chairman of the Senate
committee on gas, has said that owners of Nigeria’s
stolen money stashed in the various banks all over
the world should be granted special amnesty.
Akpan expressed his opinion on Monday, May
23, while addressing journalists in his office, The
Punch reports.
The senator said that Nigeria has hundreds of
billions of dollars stashed in various banks abroad.
However, the countries where the stolen money kept
are using them to drive their own economy, while
Nigerians are suffering.
“The time has come when we have to
think outside the box and my own
position is this, it is possible that the
government can declare amnesty on
stolen money. Let every Nigerian that
has taken money out of this country
be given amnesty to bring back the
money and invest in the country.”
“When owners of the Nigeria’s
stolen foreign currencies bring them
back to the country as a result of the
amnesty, a lot of foreign exchange
can be generated to fund our local
consumption and we can set target,”
he said.
Akpan said those who had stolen the nation’s money
should be encouraged to bring it back and invest in
Nigeria’s economy.
Describing the current pains as unnecessary, the
senator expressed assurance that the federal
government has what it takes to turn around the
economy.
“Why are we suffering in the midst of
plenty? Amnesty was created for
militancy, we should create amnesty
for anybody that has taken money
outside this country so that they can
invest them in the country. We can
generate a hundred billion dollar in
the process in less than six months.
“We need enough forex to fund our
importation, rebuild our industries,
establish capacity locally and import
raw materials for industries before
thinking of exporting finished
products. Where we are as a country
now, we should begin to look
inward,” he noted.
Akpan stressed that the government should not only
fight corruption, but let its battle yield the
appropriate results.
“Our economy based on the
statistics available to us has gone
into full blown recession. There is
reduction in revenue collection based
on the basis of oil export because of
the dwindling global oil crisis.
“The cost of producing a barrel of
crude in Nigeria is about $35 per
barrel and it is being sold for $48.
That means that as a country we
earn less than $13 per barrel.
“Countries like Saudi Arabia, and Iran
and other co-OPEC countries had
fallen back on their quantity to meet
up their demands but in Nigeria,
where we are losing 800 barrels of
oil per day when we are also
supposed to be boosting our
production. We are expected to use
income from oil to develop other
sectors of the economy,” he said.
Recalling that some countries had done it in the
past, Akpan concluded that Nigeria also needs to
grant amnesty to those who are in possession of
stolen funds as the country urgently needs money for
development.
Meanwhile, David Cameron, the prime minister of
the United Kingdom, has revealed the plan to
speed up international efforts on asset recovery for
Nigeria.
According to him, a new plan will stop corrupt
individuals and countries from moving, laundering and
hiding illicit funds through London’s property
market.
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