Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the European Union led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Michel Arrion at the presidential villa yesterday, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, stated that the federal government decided not to release the names of persons from whom it has recovered looted funds and assets, as doing so may jeopardize ongoing investigations.
Recall that during the weekend, the President Buhari-led federal government released a list of sums of monies and assets recovered in the past one year but left out the names of individuals from whom recoveries were made.
“We have released the list of recovered loot, we know people are asking for the names, but releasing the names may jeopardize ongoing investigations,” the Vice President said.
A press release by the vice president's Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity Laolu Akande, also explained that in addition to strengthening security in the Niger Delta, the federal government is engaging its leaders and people regarding the spate of attacks on oil installations in the area, stressing that those acts amount to economic sabotage.
Calling on the leaders in the region to be accountable to the people, he stated that the focus of the Buhari presidency is to ensure that the man on the street in the Niger Delta receives the benefit from all that is available there.
The vice president assured that government is working round the clock to minimize the losses arising from the attacks, adding: “We are talking, we are ensuring that we minimize losses, and we are stepping up security. We are also engaging the international oil companies, IOCs, to see what options exist."
On economic issues, the Vice President restated the government's commitment to driving its diversification policy and encourage investors from European countries to take advantage of the situation, especially in the agro-allied/processing industry.
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