In a move seen as a positive gesture to encourage transparency and probity, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has declared his personal assets.
The former general declared a fortune of $150,000 and he owns shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye Bank, although the value of the shares was not revealed. The declaration also states that Buhari owns a total of five homes and two huts in Daura, several farms, an unspecified number of cars, an orchard and a ranch with 270 head of cattle, 25 sheep and five horses.
Corruption is a blight stalling progress and development and Buhari has vowed to end corruption from Africa’s biggest economy. Last month, Buhari said $150 billion was looted from Nigerian state coffers over the past decade.
Buhari has seemingly borrowed a leaf from recently appointed Namibian president Hage Geingob and his wife Monica who both voluntarily made disclosures of their assets and business interests, a move which was widely applauded. Geingob is worth US$4 million, a fortune he says accrued over 50 years as a freedom fighter, a World Bank and UN employee.
Other politicians in Nigeria are expected to declare their wealth and the public eye will certainly be upon them.
Source: Independent
