Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi says the federal government’s aim in the fight against corruption is to restore public trust in government and ensure protection of civil liberties.

The minister, represented by Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the ministry’s permanent secretary, made the remark at the commemoration of 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja on Friday.

The Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) organised the programme in collaboration with the European Union (EU), the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), and the MacArthur Foundation and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

The  programme is themed,“Promoting Human Dignity and the Fight Against Corruption.’’

Mr Fagbemi said the theme compelled everyone to reframe their understanding of corruption, not merely as a breach of law or failure of governance, but as a profound violation of human rights and dignity.

He said corruption had robbed governments of resources that could be used for essential public services while eroding trust in institutions and undermining the very foundation of democratic societies.

‘’Our aim is to restore public trust in government; our commitment to combating corruption, therefore, must go hand in hand with steadfast dedication to the rule of law, due process, and protection of civil liberties.

“As we build resilient institutions, we must also build a culture of dignity where every Nigerian is treated fairly and every public institution sees service as a moral duty.

“Nigeria remains unwavering in its commitment to fighting corruption,’’ he said.

Mr Fagbemi said government agencies were working together under the umbrella of the interagency task force and continued to work tirelessly in investigation, prosecution, and recovery.

He said that beyond the statistics and financial implications, corruption represented a direct affront to human dignity.

The AGF called on Nigerians to embed dignity metrics in public service delivery so that service users would feel respected and not humiliated by the state.

He said every public servant, from the gatekeeper to the highest office holder, must embrace the principles that ‘’a citizen is sovereign and that public office is a public trust.’’

“We must therefore, urgently invest in civic education, character formation, and public service ethics, particularly at the level of youth engagement and leadership development,’’ he said.

Jane Onwumere, the head of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), said efforts had been made to confront corruption head-on, adding that the theme challenged everyone to connect the dots between integrity and human dignity.

Ms Onwumere, however, called for recommitment of the stakeholders to ‘’building a continent where transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights are not mere aspirations, but a reality.’’

Ogbonnaya Orji, executive secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), said corruption was more than financial misconduct, adding that it was a direct attack on human dignity.

Mr Orji said NEITI, the IATT, and regional partners remained firmly committed to the mission for transparency, justice, and the dignity of every African citizen.

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Victor Olaiye, stated that Nigeria needs more individuals with strong integrity to effectively combat corruption.

“While laws and institutions are crucial, the presence of individuals who embody honesty and ethical conduct in public service is vital for fostering a culture of accountability and transparency,’’ he said.

 (NAN)