By Rotimi Ojomoyela
ADO-EKITI — President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the newly commissioned Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Zonal Directorate Office in Ekiti State will strengthen Nigeria’s fight against corruption, economic crimes and illicit financial activities.
Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the remark on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti during the commissioning of the EFCC Zonal Directorate Office Complex.
He said the establishment of the zonal office would bring anti-corruption enforcement closer to the grassroots and improve the effectiveness of institutions tasked with tackling financial crimes.
According to him, no nation can achieve sustainable development if corruption is allowed to weaken public institutions and erode public trust.
“The institutions we build and the pace at which we invest in them matter greatly,” Shettima said, noting that development is undermined when corruption stands between citizens and government promises.
He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was created to protect the economy from criminal activity and uphold public trust.
Shettima commended EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede for what he described as sustained efforts in the anti-corruption campaign, adding that the new facility would further motivate staff to improve performance.
He stressed that the current administration remained committed to strengthening anti-corruption agencies through better working conditions, improved welfare, operational independence and capacity building.
The Vice President also noted that recovered assets by the EFCC had supported key national programmes, including student loans and consumer credit initiatives.
He urged the commission and other agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to sustain the momentum in the fight against corruption.
Earlier, Olukoyede described the new office as a major milestone in expanding the EFCC’s operational reach, particularly across Ekiti and Ondo States.
He said the facility was established to close operational gaps previously created by distance from other zonal offices and assured residents that the EFCC’s presence should not be a source of fear for law-abiding citizens.
Olukoyede warned that cybercriminals, fraudsters and illegal miners would find no safe haven within the zone.
He also said recovered proceeds of crime were being deployed to support national development initiatives.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji commended the Federal Government for the project, saying the new EFCC office would help reduce financial crimes and improve economic confidence in the state.
