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BBC News Online: World: Africa


Thursday, 5 November, 1998, 00:24 GMT

Nigeria's missing millions


Business district in Kano
Nigeria's infrastructure collapsed under the Abacha regime
A former Nigerian finance minister has alleged that $1.3bn was irregularly withdrawn from government funds under the rule of the late military leader, General Sani Abacha.

Anthony Ani said he discovered the missing money while reconciling state accounts for the handover to the new military ruler, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

General Abacha

Mr Ani said withdrawals were made on General Abacha's personal authority by his security adviser, Ismaila Gwarzo, ostensibly for security purposes.

Mr Gwarzo was recently freed after a three-month detention period.

Some funds were traced to Beirut. Mr Ani said that he had managed to recover $700m.

Collapsed infrastructure

General Abacha's government is thought to have stolen more than $2bn in total.

Nigeria's infrastructure collapsed under the previous military government. Its oil refineries barely operate, the education and health systems have all but fallen apart and the electricity supply is sporadic.

Abubakar in London

Money that was allocated for the repair of refineries and other infrastructure disappeared or was never released by the government.

The new military government has made some effort to trace funds that went missing under General Abacha's regime.

But the BBC correspondent in Lagos, Hilary Andersson, says it appears to be treading softly, perhaps because many members of the current government, including the head of state General Abubakar, were also senior members of the last government.

Nigeria - one of the world's biggest oil producing nations - generates millions of dollars every day in oil revenues.


Related to this story:
Obituary: Abacha leader with an iron grip (02 Jul 98 | After Abacha) Abacha adviser in corruption probe (04 Aug 98 | After Abacha) Nigeria tastes freedom (18 Feb 99 | From Our Own Correspondent)


Internet links: Nigeria.Com | Africa News Online | Nigeria (CIA Factbook) |
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