The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has backed allegations by industrialist Aliko Dangote that some government officials are involved in corrupt practices.
Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, recently petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), accusing some officials of embezzling public funds.
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Addressing the matter in a video posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, Senator Kalu urged the government to thoroughly investigate Dangote’s allegations, stating there is truth in the claims.
“I support what Aliko Dangote said about corruption. We should look into what he is saying because there is truth in it,” Senator Kalu stated in the video.
The senator noted that corruption exists in both the private and public sectors, emphasising the need for government to investigate officials within its ranks. “A lot of money is being stolen here, both by people in the private sector and those in the public sector. The government should investigate those in government. People are stealing,” he said.
Senator Kalu also called on President Bola Tinubu to address the dollarisation of the Nigerian economy, urging the government to stop people from conducting transactions in foreign currency. “I urged Tinubu to stop people from buying things in dollars. We should stop using dollars in our economy,” the senator stated.
The lawmaker’s comments come amid growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria’s petroleum sector and its impact on the economy.
