By Alex EnebeThe National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Gov. Peter Mbah, on Tuesday inaugurated Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Enugu Zonal Command Complex, to boost and motivate the commission’s personnel productivity.
Inaugurating the complex, Ribadu said he was pleased to be part of the chapter in the evolution of EFCC as well as inauguration of Enugu Zonal Command Office Complex.
According to the former EFCC Chairman, the command was one of the six zonal offices established during his time as executive Chairman of the Commission.
While describing the event as very symbolic and lauding the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, Ribadu, said he was particularly delighted for the transformation of the complex.
“I want to thank the chairman for the vision in putting up the magnificent edifice for the use of the personnel of the zone,” he said.
He commended Mbah for the good work he was doing in security and economy, saying, “Mbah is one of the few leaders that have surmounted the challenges and difficulties facing the nation.
“Thank you for the good work you are doing, not just for Enugu, but for the country. Things are changing. We are getting better things and improvements across.
“You are one of the very few that have shown that indeed it is possible. Security is restored and we believe that with leaders like you, the challenges and difficulties we have faced in the past will certainly be put behind us.
“We want to encourage you and all those who are doing good in restoring order in Nigeria,” Ribadu said.
He said the decision to prioritize the welfare of the personnel of the zone and indeed all EFCC staff with current EFCC administration was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s policies and programmes.
“The issue of welfare are also important to law enforcement agencies to enable them perform better, “I want to assure you that this administration will look after your welfare.
“All we ask in return is total commitment to the mandate of your agency beyond your various activities in fighting all forms of fraud in Nigeria,” he said.
Ribadu urged for synergy among the security agencies in the state while commending the heads for being present at the occasion.
In a remark, Mbah, said the location of the zonal command in Enugu was appropriate given the historical role Enugu had played as the administrative headquarters of the Southern and Eastern provinces.
Mbah said that the new office would re-invigorate the commission in the South- East since the unfortunate burning of the office seven months ago.
The governor also said that the presence of the National Security Adviser at the inauguration underscored the nexus between corruption and the ongoing war against insecurity.
He also enjoined security agencies in the state to sustain the tempo against insecurity while acknowledging the tireless efforts they had made in supporting “the major advancements we have recorded in the war against insecurity.”
“We hereby enjoin the security agencies to sustain their good works to ensure that Enugu State and Nigeria as a whole are able to consign the memories of insecurity to distant history.
“Also, the opening of this office reafirms our commitment as a nation to sustain the war against corruption. This commitment is well-founded in view of the many proven negative effects corruption has on our economic development.
“For example, corruption is globally acknowledged to reduce the adoption of innovative strategies within economies, tends to discourage direct investments, both foreign and domestic, while reducing the rate of emergent new jobs, and increasing the prices of products and services.
“With this in mind, and considering the objective of this administration to make Enugu State one of the three states in terms of GDP and achieve zero per cent rate in poverty headcount index,” Mbah said.
Earlier in a welcome address, Olukoyede, said the fire incident recorded by the command destroyed the building while vital work equipment were consumed.
He said with the new complex, the commission had put everything behind them and moved ahead, stressing that the occasion was unique as it recorded triumph over tragedy.
The chairman stressed that the importance of the new office cannot be overemphasized as it would motivate and improve the productivity of its personnel.
“My vision is to ensure that staff in all EFCC outpost work in decent offices with facilities that compared with other law enforcement agencies anywhere in the world,” he said.
He commended Tinubu, saying, “when he appointed me, he charged me to use the instrument of anti-corruption to drive the economic development by following the processes of law and do right things always”.
