The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that a lot of things were “done wrongly and mismanaged” in the country by previous administrations.
Ribadu, who is the Pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said this on Tuesday during the commissioning of the new edifice of the Enugu Zonal Command of the commission.
The NSA charged the commission and its Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede 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 commended Olukoyede for transforming the commission within the short period of his appointment, adding that Nigerians are taking note of his 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”, he said.
While calling on other security agencies to collaborate with the Commission in achieving 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.
“No agency can operate alone without the support and collaboration of stakeholders. I therefore call 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.