National security adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has commended the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede over the transformation of the Commission within the short period of time of his appointment, adding that Nigerians are taking note of his impact.
The NSA gave this commendation in Enugu yesterday at the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC during the commissioning of its new edifice.
Ribadu also applauded Governor Peter Mbah for restoring peace in Enugu State. He said the administration had fought insecurity to a standstill in the state
On the EFCC boss, Ribadu said, “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”.
The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement last night, said Ribadu charged the EFCC to take a front row 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.
He said, “You have the biggest role and responsibility in the forefront to get things back to order. Lot of things were done wrongly and mismanaged. You must clean up, sanitise, and demonstrate that you are one of our best. Be honest, be just, be fair. That is what you are known for.”.
Ribadu called on other security agencies to collaborate with the EFCC to its mandate.
The NSA acknowledged 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), adding that there is still room for improvement.
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.
To Governor Mbah, Ribadu said, “Your Excellency, the governor, we want to thank you so much for the good work you are doing, not just for Enugu State, but for our country. Things are changing. We are getting better here and things are improving. You are one of the very, very few that has shown that, indeed, it is possible. Security is getting back to normalcy in Enugu State and, by extension, the South East. And you are in the forefront of it. We recognise that and thank you for the good work you are doing. The economy is improving. It is clear. You are addressing insecurity. You are engaging.
“We believe that with leaders like you, the human challenges and the typical things we had to face in the past will certainly be put behind us. We want to encourage you and all those, who are doing exceptionally good work in restoring order in Nigeria.
“We were here in June and we had an interaction with the governor, and he came out strongly and courageously. He said that he would do his best to restore order. Today, based on our own records and statistics – because we get daily reports of activities – there are lots of instances or days or even weeks and more that we have not recorded one single violence or incident of either terrorism or even kidnapping. They are going extremely down in Enugu State and by extension the South East. Things have changed.
“Unfortunately, before the coming of this administration, police stations were being attacked, law enforcement people were being attacked. People were giving selfish orders. Those who are not even in Nigeria will sit somewhere in the comfort of the countries where they live and be giving instructions that people should not go to work; should not go out to look for their own livelihood and people used to take such orders. But no more; it is no longer happening. We thank the leaders who have emerged in the South East and we thank the federal government for engagement.
“We want to thank the governor of Enugu State. He has done a wonderful job. And also tell people of this state to support him. He is doing a good job. We are very, very proud of what is happening today in Enugu State and the South East by extension,” he said.
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