Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africa Links 24
Published on 2024-03-20 21:01:02
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) have joined forces to develop new strategies aimed at helping Nigeria exit the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Grey List. This collaborative effort was born out of a meeting between the Director and Chief Executive Officer of NFIU, Hafsat Bakari, and the executive chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters.
During the meeting, Bakari emphasized the importance of building a stronger partnership between the two organizations to address the challenges posed by FATF’s Grey List. She highlighted the shared history and common goal of ensuring Nigeria’s removal from the Grey List in the near future. Bakari also outlined the intelligence-generating and sharing initiatives undertaken by NFIU to support law enforcement agencies across the country and ensure compliance with reporting obligations. She pledged to continue working with integrity and effectiveness to combat corruption, insecurity, terrorist financing, and other threats to the nation’s peace and progress.
Olukoyede, on the other hand, expressed EFCC’s full commitment to supporting NFIU in achieving their shared objectives. He reassured Bakari of EFCC’s active involvement in the exit action plan and emphasized the importance of doing what is right for the country’s growth and development. Olukoyede stressed the significance of preventive measures in combating economic and financial crimes, stating that it is more cost-effective to prevent corruption than to deal with its consequences.
Furthermore, Nigeria was added to FATF’s Grey List in February 2023, triggering the implementation of a 19-item action plan to be completed by May 2025 to avoid being moved to the Black List. Olukoyede expressed confidence that the collective efforts of EFCC, NFIU, and other relevant agencies will help Nigeria successfully exit the Grey List. He underscored the need to prioritize national interests over foreign influences and uphold the principles of integrity in driving the action plan to boost the country’s economy.
In conclusion, the collaboration between EFCC and NFIU signifies a significant step towards enhancing Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and strengthening its position on the international stage. By working together to implement the FATF action plan, both organizations are demonstrating their commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and integrity in the fight against financial crimes.ọ
Overall, the proactive approach taken by EFCC and NFIU towards exiting the FATF Grey List reflects a shared commitment to promoting good governance and combating corruption in Nigeria. By leveraging their respective expertise and resources, the two agencies are working towards a common goal of safeguarding the country’s financial system and integrity. Through sustained collaboration and determination, Nigeria can overcome the challenges posed by the Grey List and emerge stronger on the global stage.
Read the original article on DailyNigerian.com
