Lawmaker, Onuigbo harps on need to tackle Illicit financial flows in Africa

A member of the House of Representatives for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of Abia State, Sam Onuigbo, has tasked African countries with collective efforts in the fight against corruption and Illicit Financial Flow (IFF).

He also maintained that any country serious in seeking the development and growth of its people must prioritize the fight against Illicit Financial Flows and corruption, reminding politicians and political parties of the important role in the current crusade to free the African continent from corruption and end the Illicit Financial Flows.

Onuigbo made his opinion known during a paper presentation on the theme, “the role of Politicians/Political parties in the fight against Corruption and illicit Financial Flows” at a seminar in Abuja.

He also maintained that the plugging of the massive leakage occasioned by corruption and illicit financial flows is a necessary first step to follow, for a country desirous to sustain its growth and development, hence the need on the African countries to muster the needed political will to fight and quell both menaces to foster sustainable development in economy, infrastructure and other critical sectors.

Continuing, the federal lawmaker urged the governments in African countries to strengthen their policies and laws, as they would help check illicit financial flows and corruption, including enactment of laws to protect whistleblowers, journalists, civil society, and even security agencies.

Onuigbo, who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of Abia State in the green chamber of the National Assembly, further admonished the governments in black countries to invest in technological development and its use to ensure effective and easily accessible data capture and dissemination.

According to the legislator, “with this understanding came the push for the strengthening of African democracies since strong democratic institutions are perceived as key in the fight against corruption.

“Since the turn of the millennium, conversation on corruption and the need to drive its drastic reduction in Africa have dominated the political and development space.

“It is essentially believed that driving down corruption represents a necessary first step to the integrated development of Africa. Africa countries must ensure its strengthening of regulatory agencies to ensure effective monitoring, arrest where necessary of culprits and prosecution of offenders, as parts of steps in the fight corruption and against Illicit Financial Flows to guarantee sustainable development”.