The National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has commended the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, for the transformation of the Commission within the short period of time of his appointment.
The NSA, who gave this commendation on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC during the commissioning of its new edifice, added that Nigerians are taking note of Olukoyede’s impact.
“I am particularly delighted by the transformation of this complex and indeed the transformation of the EFCC itself. Mr. Chairman, you are doing a good job. You are not just transforming the physical spaces and buildings but the EFCC itself. I can assure you that people are taking note of that and I want to commend the Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, and his team for the vision to put up this magnificent edifice for use by personnel of the Zone”, Ribadu said.
Ribadu, erstwhile head of the anti-graft agency, further charged the Commission to be on the frontlines in the effort to check the laundering of proceeds of violent crimes like terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry in order to restore growth and stability in the nation’s economy, as the Commission has the biggest role and responsibility in the forefront to get things back to order.
The NSA also called on other security agencies to collaborate with the Commission in achieving its mandate, while acknowledging the modest contributions of the Commission in checking illicit financial flows, especially in the Designated Non-Financial Sector, DNFS, through the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML.
He also noted that no agency can operate alone without the support and collaboration of stakeholders, and therefore called on other security and law enforcement organisations in this Zone to work with the EFCC to ensure that it achieves its mandate. “This is how we can change our country. Stand by one another, support one another, be one”, he said.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi, said the commissioning of the edifice reconfirmed the commitment of the nation to sustain the war against corruption.
“The commitment is well founded in view of the many proven negative effects corruption has on economic development. For example, corruption is globally acknowledged to reduce the adoption of innovative strategies within economies. Secondly, it tends to discourage direct investments both foreign and domestic while reducing the rate of emergence of new jobs and increasing the prices of products and services”, he said.
The governor, who expressed confidence that the commissioning of the new structure will go a long way in boosting the effectiveness of the Commission’s operations in the region, commended the entire Commission for the sterling work it has done in fighting corruption and graft across all segments of society since its inauguration.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the anti-graft czar said one of his desires is to provide a conducive environment for staff to boost their productivity in achieving the mandate of the Commission.
He assured citizens of Enugu State that fraudsters have no place in the State, and called on the Civil Society Organisations in the South East to collaborate with the command. He also charged officers of the Command to be doubly committed to the mandate of the Commission.
Highlights of the event include, planting of trees in front of the edifice by the NSA, the Governor, and the EFCC’s Chairman, after which Olukoyede led them, including other heads of sister security agencies on a tour of the new structure.
