On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu promised to support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission more in order to strengthen its ability to address digital crimes.
He expressed his disapproval of the “mislabelling and blanket stereotyping” of Nigeria as the nation with the highest rate of cybercrime and other corrupt activities among its citizens.
At a public discussion on youth, religion, and the fight against corruption, as well as the launch of the interfaith manual and fraud risk assessment project for MDAs at Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Tinubu—represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima—promised the assurance.
The EFCC event is a multifaceted way for stakeholders to get involved in the fight against financial and economic crimes.
Details of Wednesday’s speech were made public by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, in a statement headed “President Tinubu decries labelling, blanket stereotyping of Nigerians over cybercrimes.”
The President reasoned that the majority of citizens who uphold integrity and diligence are undermined by such stereotypes.
He reassured the anti-graft agency of “the government’s support in its quest to combat these digital offenses,” emphasizing the urgency of battling internet crimes and eliminating the threat posed by other forms of corruption head-on. He also stated, “We must recognize that the Commission’s lawful efforts to bring fraudsters to book are imperative for the overall well-being of our society.”
“The government understands that an environment rooted in integrity and trust is necessary to achieve our lofty goal of eliminating online offenses and corruption. He clarified, “We have to encourage open lines of communication and make sure that law enforcement measures are consistent with justice and accountability.
He expressed regret that, without statistical evidence, the entire Nigerian population had been associated with online crimes over time; he claimed that this development was inconsistent with the lifestyle of the average Nigerian.
Conversely, he noted that Nigerians are conscientious, genuine citizens who have made important contributions to a wide range of global endeavors.
As he began his speech, Tinubu said, “Nigerians have been mislabeled for decades. Youth, Religion, and Our Battle Against Corruption: A Call to Action.” Such flagrant misrepresentation misses the mark in capturing the spirit of our resilient and diverse country.
The correlation between internet crimes and the entire Nigerian population is not supported by statistical data and is inconsistent with the sociological profile of ordinary Nigerians. Our country is made up of honest, hardworking people who make major contributions to a variety of global fields, including medicine and artificial intelligence.
While we reject generalizations that denigrate the majority that uphold the values of honesty and diligence, we also have to acknowledge that we live in a globalized world where cybercrimes are becoming more and more common. This puts the entire world in danger in addition to our country.
Through its work, the EFCC has been vocal in “telling the world that Nigeria is neither complicit nor complacent in confronting the menace of corruption,” he said, praising the commission for “remaining a moral compass, persistently rousing the nation’s conscience.”
Tinubu also reminded young people in Nigeria of the plethora of legal business opportunities both inside and outside of the nation.
He contended that in order to address the financial needs of students, his administration has taken the action of establishing a Students Loan Board.
He stated, “This initiative aims not only to alleviate financial burdens but also to disincentivize criminality by offering a tangible alternative.” The government claims that the scheme will start in January.
“We have a clear message for the young people: there are plenty of opportunities in a variety of fields, and the horizon is broad. Take advantage of these opportunities, start legal businesses, and showcase your skills.
“The government urges you to take advantage of these chances, demonstrate your skills in all areas, and add to the prosperity of our wonderful country.”
The Inter-Faith and Fraud Risk Assessment Projects are two of the EFCC’s initiatives to combat corruption. President Tinubu praised these efforts, saying they “underscore the importance of engaging diverse faith communities in our fight against corruption and recognize the potential of religion as a tool for ethical reformation.”
As such, he called on religious authorities to show leadership by supporting the fight against corruption.
The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, had stated earlier in his welcome speech that the interfaith manuals and the Fraud Risk Assessment Project for MDAs would aid in enlisting pertinent and important parties in the organization’s redoubled efforts to combat corruption.
Olukoyede bemoaned the involvement of religious organizations in illegal activities, such as money laundering, in addition to the pervasiveness of cybercrime and related youth-led activities.
As a result, he exhorted leaders of various organizations to collaborate with the commission by disseminating messages that extol the qualities of honesty, integrity, and diligence.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, stressed in his message of goodwill that greater emphasis should be placed on preventive measures in the ongoing battle against corruption.
Read Also: Otedola takes over as chair of FBN Holdings, exciting investors.
In remarks made separately, President Tinubu and the EFCC management were praised for the administration’s declared commitment to combating corruption in Nigeria by Daniel Okoh, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, and Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife.
The Senate President’s representative, Sen. Emmanuel Udende, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Prof. Lilian Salami, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin and Chairperson of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Mr. John Momoh, the Chairman of Channels TV, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the Former Minister of Works and Housing, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB Registrar, and a few other officials were also present, including some heads of government agencies and parastatals.
