The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has vowed to curb the activities of currency traffickers and money launderers using the instrumentality of the nation’s airports.
He also vowed to tackle any airport worker found to be assisting them.
Magu made these known on Thursday at an anti-corruptuon sensitisation programme for aviation sector workers in the country in Abuja.
He equally called for closer cooperation between the EFCC and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to curb unfettered movement of financial criminals in and out of Nigeria.
The anti-graft boss said, “We have been working together with FAAN in the area of currency trafficking, money laundering and several dimensions of financial crimes being perpetrated at the airports. We will do our best to rid our airports of these launderers.
“The FAAN in collaboration with the EFCC can fight corruption effectively. Cases of free movement of criminals in and out of the country and the brazen laundering of proceeds of illicit activities through our airports can be checked with improved synergy.
“The airport as perhaps the most important gateway into the country is strategic in many ways. The most important is that it is foreigners’ first contact with Nigeria and the impression they form of our country is largely informed by the conduct of our aviation professionals.
“This is why the conduct of our aviation professionals is key to the efforts at national rebirth, especially the critical economic mandate of attracting foreign direct investment into our economy.
“To this extent, it is imperative that we erase those practices, attitudes and behaviours that cost a slur on our nation’s reputation and make Nigeria an unattractive destination for both tourists and investment.
“To this extent, it is important to put screening and monitoring systems in place to ensure that airport staff deliver service to the best international practices.
“As things stand, except we delude ourselves, we cannot deny that the twin evil of corruption and poor infrastructure have blighted our aviation industry.
“In recent times, many cases of corruption have been reported in the sector ranging from misuse of funds, bribery, extortion, to abuse of authority by officials at the airports.
“The implication of this is the compelling need to strengthen our key integrity systems by consciously eliminating practices that promotes corrupt tendencies in the public sectors.
“As colleagues in the service of our beloved nation, I like to remind us that it is vanity to aspire to amass wealth through corrupt means. We should rather be mindful of our legacy of service by being accountable at all time.”