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Although there is evidence of improved governance and an anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria, major challenges remain ahead of the country in its quest to entrench transparency in the economy and the body politic, a director of the World Bank, Mr. Danny Kaufmann, has said.
Although there is evidence of improved governance and an anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria, major challenges remain ahead of the country in its quest to entrench transparency in the economy and the body politic, a director of the World Bank, Mr. Danny Kaufmann, has said.
He said that the available economic data reflected recent reform efforts on governance and anti-corruption but that the pattern of improvement has not been consistent.
'Little improvement in some areas, contrasting notable progress in other areas," Kaufman said at a media roundtable in Abuja on Wednesday.
The World Bank director is visiting Nigeria at the request of the Federal Government to discuss the country's anti-corruption work; especially how this can be taken further and how it can better reflect on corruption indices.
Kaufman met with a broad spectrum of the Nigerian society including government officials, legislators, civil society groups and the media.
The World Bank, popular for his anti-corruption work, emphasized the need to deepen the ongoing reforms by end of 2006 so that the overall gains may prove to be historical and irreversible.
'Only Nigeria can formulate and lead the most appropriate strategy of reform," he said.
Kaufmann urged Nigeria to build on worldwide experience, especially on what had worked and what works, as it pushs ahead against corruption.
The PUNCH, Thursday, October 13, 2005