Head of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in Sokoto state, Mahdi Muhammad Lawal, yesterday called for changes to legal and policy frameworks for the control of public funds, expenditure as well as improved procurement practices, saying corruption is an impediment to the Nigeria’s strategic economic growth and development.

Lawal who made the call at an event to commemorate the World Anti-Corruption Day disclosed that the Sokoto office of the ICPC has investigated 28 cases in the past two years while five cases are in court and called for the strengthening of other strategies towards the fight against corruption.

He noted that corruption would be eradicated if every citizen takes the promotion of transparency and accountability as their responsibility.

He explained that the militancy in the Niger Delta and the current lingering crisis in the North with particular reference to Maiduguri, Yobe, and Kano among other states of the North were highly attributed to the lingering consequences of corruption.

Lawal said it is a contradiction that Nigeria being the fifth largest producer of crude oil in the world and the largest producer in Africa, still imports most of the petrol used locally.

In a paper on the effects of corruption in Nigeria, Alhaji Nura Attajiri of the National Council of Muslim Youths Organization, described corruption as a key governance problem in Nigeria. He noted that it is a paradox and contradiction that Nigeria is said to be a very religious nation while corruption thrives.

Attajiri called on the citizenry to ensure success in the fight against corruption, noting that in a democratic and informed society, incorruptible governments can be constructed by the efforts of incorruptible citizens.