Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has informed Nigerians that releasing the names of treasury looters “may jeopardize ongoing investigations.”

Nigerians reacted with dissatisfaction when the federal government released the figures of cash and assets recovered from looters but ailed to reveal the names of those who embezzled the funds.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the European Union on Monday, Osinbajo said, “We have released the list of recovered loot, we know people are are asking for the names, but releasing the names may jeopardize ongoing investigations.”

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant-Media & Publicity to the Vice President, further quoted the VP to have said that the federal government is engaging leaders and people of the Niger Delta regarding the spate of attacks on oil installations in the area while also beefing up security in the region at the same time.

VP Osinbajo further noted that the aim of the presidency “is to ensure that the man on the street in the Niger Delta receives the benefit from all that is available there.”

“We are talking, we are ensuring that we minimize losses and we are stepping up security. We are also engaging the international oil companies, IOCs, to see what options exists.”

Speaking on the economy, the Vice President reaffirmed the government’s determination to diversify the economy and also to ensure that the ease of doing business ranking in Nigeria goes up by at least 20 steps in the World Bank rating.

Osinbajo also disclosed that the President has approved the composition of a Presidential Commission on the matter to be chaired by himself, the VP, and Industry, Trade & Investment Minister, Dr. Okey Enelamah as Vice Chairman.

“In the next few months, we should be seeing some changes,” the VP added.

Dele Benjamin