The United States and Nigeria this week signed an agreement to repatriate $23 million looted and hidden abroad by former dictator Sani Abacha, who ruled the country between 1993 and 1998. But the question of the use of these funds in the country, which is bogged down in the economic crisis, raises questions.
With our correspondent in Lagos, Liza Fabbian
It is a small portion of the loot hijacked by Sani Abacha that should soon be returned to Nigeria. The millions stolen by the former dictator and his family have been deposited in accounts in Switzerland, Britain and the United States.
All of these countries have returned large sums of money to Nigeria in recent years. In 2017, Switzerland, for example, announced the return of $321 million in assets seized as part of criminal proceedings against the son of General Abacha.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria said this week that nearly $335 million stolen by the general and his family has been returned by her country so far.
The last installment therefore amounts to 23 million dollars, a sum which will be used to finance three infrastructure projects: a bridge over the Niger River, the Lagos Ibadan highway and the Abuja-Kano road.
But many already fear that this windfall will once again be swallowed up by corruption as Nigeria sinks ever deeper into economic crisis.
The Union of Academic Staff of Universities (Asuu), which has been on strike for more than seven months, for example, suggested that this sum be invested in increasing the salaries of university professors “ so that young people can go back to school “.