Former Head of State, Late General Sani Abacha grew Nigeria’s foreign reserves from $200 million to $9 billion during his five-year rule, his ex-Chief Security Officer, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha has said.
Abacha served as military head of state from 1993 until his death in 1998.
His rule saw the achievement of several economic feats and also recorded human rights abuses and several political assassinations.
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While Speaking at the 22nd commemoration of Abacha’s death, Al-Mustapha insisted that the late Head of State revamped and stabilized Nigeria’s ailing economy before his death.
“What Abacha has done to Nigeria can’t be forgotten in the annals of history and generations yet unborn.
“Abacha came in and found only $200m in the foreign reserve but before his demise, he was able to revamp the economy and stabilise it to the extent that he saved over $9bn in foreign reserves.
“Only God will reward General Sani Abacha for the laudable initiative he made in transforming this country to an enviable height,” he said.
On April 4, the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation said Nigeria has recovered over $311 million of the alleged stolen funds by Sani Abacha from the United States and Jersey.