Nigeria Calls for Global Action Against Corruption

Nigeria has called on the United Nations to expedite action in the efforts to the establishment of an international convention against corruption to ensure global action against the problem.

The country's President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, made the call in New York Sunday at the 57th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he drew attention of the delegates to the permicius issue of corruption and its manifestation at the international level.

According to President Obasanjo: "We have always maintained that it takes two to tango, and that the instances of corruption in developing countries have often been supported by encouragement and inducements from the industrialized countries."

On UN reforms, President Obasanjo said Nigeria was a major proponent of it, especially that of the structure and working methods of the Security Council, adding that the country was willing to contribute to efforts and stood ready to support other of like mind and circumstances in their endeavour.

"Nigeria envisages a new Security Council in which it will play the role destined by its geo-political circumstances and the challenges of the 21st century," President Obasanjo said.

September 18, 2002