Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said the Federal Government is ready to arrest more looters of the public treasury, just as he added that corruption is desperately fighting back.
Osinbajo noted that because of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to recover Nigeria’s stolen wealth, government will soon arrest more looters.
He disclosed this in Akure, capital of Ondo State, yesterday evening, when he inaugurated the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Clinic.
The vice president said Nigeria’s problems are not many; if there is no corruption and that, despite the fact that the money which accrued to the current government is about 60 percent less than what the last administration got, the current administration had been able to deploy the funds to proper use.
“We have access to lesser money than the previous administration but what we have been able to do are far more than what they did.
“We are able to achieve this because we are spending what we have for the people. We have spent over N1.3 trillion on infrastructure; to better the lives of Nigerians.
“They promised Lagos- Kano rail line; they did not do it. We earn lesser than they had, we are doing it. Look at Lagos Ibadan rail line, they had much money, they did not do it, we are doing it. Look at Lagos -Ibadan expressway, we are doing it.
“We shall continue to arrest these who stole the nation’s money. They said we have not been able to convict anybody, we are not bothered, we shall continue to arrest and prosecute them. Let the case remain in court.
“Corruption is desperately fighting back so that they can come back to into power. God will make it impossible,” Osinbajo stated.
The vice president said he was in Akure to participate in the sixth edition of the MSME clinic; to make government accountable to the people.
He also disclosed that the federal government budgeted N500 billion for the four components of the MSME, out of which N80 billion has been provided despite paucity of funds.
Osinbajo said not less than 200 youths have been engaged in the N-Power component of the MSME and added that 300, 000 more would benefit.
Out of this figure, 5,271 have benefitted from the N-Power programme in Ondo, with N2.7 billion spent on beneficiaries.
The vice president said the clinic was initiated to enable small scale businessmen, market women and youths have a one-stop shop to relate with relevant agencies of government.
In his remarks, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, said the initiative underscores the determination of the present government, to drive the economy towards self-reliance.
Akeredolu noted that the MSME clinic has been used as a platform and delivery tool for development.